The Pittsburgh Penguins generated enough offense on Wednesday, but their execution late in the game faltered. Play moved back and forth for most of the night, with both teams finding chances. The Penguins held a lead late in the game but could not manage to pull off a win in the final moments.
That result led their goaltender to speak openly about the performance.
Stuart Skinner Reacts to Penguins’ 6-5 Overtime Loss Against Hurricanes
The Penguins lost 6-5 in overtime to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in Raleigh. Pittsburgh played with captain Sidney Crosby back in the lineup, but the Hurricanes secured a win on Sean Walker’s goal with 28.3 seconds left in the extra period.
Pittsburgh earned its first lead of the game late in regulation after scoring twice in 23 seconds, but Carolina answered again to force overtime. The third period featured seven total goals, which kept the pressure high on both teams.
Stuart Skinner addressed the result with frustration, even though he believed his individual game felt strong during the night.
“Yeah, I mean, I felt really good. I think that’s why I’m really annoyed right now, because I let in six goals. Wouldn’t have expected that, but it’s a hard game. It’s a hard league. These guys know how to score goals. They know how to make plays, and they got lucky on the six-on-five goal, and sometimes luck kind of goes the other team’s way.”
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Skinner pointed to the team’s approach in the third period as a reason for its offensive push.
“Yeah, I think we were getting on our forecheck a little bit more, winning our 50-50 battles, and I think we were getting to the net,” he said. “You know, we were able to screen Freddy on a couple of those goals. Yeah, just kind of making plays and hemming them in their zone, and when we were able to do that, we got our chances.”
Pittsburgh still could not hold the lead, and Skinner said the difference came down to execution in crucial moments. He felt the team handled overtime well and created chances, but could not convert when it mattered.
“We were able to definitely give ourselves a chance to win, but yeah, they were able to kind of make a good play at the right time, and obviously we lose.”
The result followed a pattern where the Penguins have made it beyond 60 minutes but have not always finished games. Skinner did not see frustration building in the group and kept the focus on their overall approach.
“Honestly, I don’t feel any frustration in this room. I think we’re very positive about the way that we play, and I mean, that’s sometimes just the way it goes.”
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Skinner joined Pittsburgh in a Dec. 12, 2025, trade with the Edmonton Oilers, with both teams looking for a change in goal. His run with the Penguins has included strong stretches and some difficult outings, and this game added another test.
With the division race still tight, results like this carry added importance for Pittsburgh. The Penguins currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 84 points, one point ahead of the New York Islanders.
