Category: Sports

Walker’s OT goal lifts Hurricanes past Penguins 6-5 in matchup of Metropolitan Division’s top teams

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Carolina Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho (20) controls the puck in front of Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell (67) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sean Walker scored with 28.3 seconds left in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes beat Pittsburgh 6-5 on Wednesday night, spoiling Sidney Crosby’s return to the Penguins’ lineup.

Jackson Blake had a goal and two assists, Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Walker each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Jordan Martinook and K’Andre Miller also scored and Nikolaj Ehlers finished with three assists. Frederik Andersen made 30 saves.

Erik Karlsson had two goals and an assist, Crosby added a goal and an assist, and Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel also scored for Pittsburgh. Stuart Skinner stopped 38 shots in the second matchup in nine nights between the top teams in the Metropolitan Division that went beyond regulation.

Pittsburgh completed a 2-1-2 trip that began with last week’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Eastern Conference- and Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes.

Each team scored twice in the final 7:01 of regulation, beginning with Stankoven’s goal and capped by Miller’s score with 2:51 left. In between, Karlsson and Kindel scored in a 23-second span.

Walker’s goal was his third in an eight-game stretch.

After Stankoven’s goal with 7:01 left gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 lead, Karlsson and Kindel scored 23 seconds apart for the Penguins.

Crosby missed 11 games after suffering a lower-body injury while playing for Canada in the Milan Cortina Olympics. He logged about 18½ minutes in his return, scoring the Penguins’ first goal midway through the second period. It was his 28th of the season.

Karlsson’s tying goal 59 seconds into the third came on a 5-on-3 power play to begin a period that included seven total goals.

Martinook’s short-handed goal was the only scoring in the first period.

Up next

Penguins: Host Winnipeg on Saturday.

Hurricanes: At Toronto on Friday.

 

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will return to the lineup three weeks after being put on the injured reserve for injury he suffered at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, left, celebrates his second goal of the first period with Rickard Rakell during an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse confirmed today that when the Penguins take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh, their captain Sidney Crosby will be back in the lineup. The thirty-eight-year-old center suffered an injury in a quarterfinal men’s ice hockey game between Canada and Czechia at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy on February 18th, 2026. The right leg of Crosby appeared to buckle when Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas hit him in the second period of that game. Crosby was put on the injured reserve three weeks ago. 

Pittsburgh Pirates pitching rated by broadcaster Joe Block

Joe Block returned to Beaver County Radio airwaves on Wednesday, fielding questions about the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff.

Is Mitch Keller primed for a bounce-back season? Has the relief pitching corps solidified?

Here’s what Block, one of the Pirates’ broadcasters, had to say:

Block will be back on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show at 7:40 a.m. Friday and Monday, chatting with host Scott Tady.

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Pittsburgh native and Indiana University football head coach Curt Cignetti will drive the honorary pace car at the 2026 Indianapolis 500

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds the trophy after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh native Curt Cignetti will drive the honorary pace car this year at the Indianapolis 500. Cignetti is the head coach of Indiana University’s college football team, and he led the Hoosiers to their first college football national championship on January 19th, 2026 in Miami. Race organizers made the announcement last night during the World Baseball Classic championship game, which was also held in Miami. Cignetti will drive a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, which is touted as the most advanced Corvette ever made, at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 24th. 

Pitt Panthers spring football game not open to the public because of preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) reacts after getting sacked during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pitt Panthers’ upcoming Blue-Gold spring football game at Acrisure Stadium will not be open to the public. Pitt stated on Monday that the annual spring game that’s being held on April 11th will be closed to the public because of ongoing preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft that will be taking place in and around Acrisure Stadium. The draft will be in the Steel City from April 23rd-25th with the Main Stage and NFL Draft Theater expected to take up more area than a football field outside of Acrisure Stadium. 

Blackhawk loses to Oakland Catholic 45-44 in the Class 4A PIAA semifinals because of a game-changing block

(FIle Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allison Park, PA) Blackhawk’s girl’s high school basketball team lost 45-44 to Oakland Catholic last night in Allison Park because of a game-deciding play in one of the semifinal games of the girls Class 4A PIAA state playoffs. Blackhawk senior guard Grace Huston went up for a shot to win it for the Cougars with less than 20 seconds remaining in regulation, but it was blocked by Oakland Catholic guard Luci LaMendola and after a scrum ensued for the loose ball, Oakland Catholic came away with possession and dribbled out the clock.  

Sewickley Academy boys high school basketball team defeats Mercyhurst Prep 64-39 to advance to the Class 2A PIAA championship game

(File Photo of the Basketball Broadcast Logo Schedule)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sharon, PA) Sewickley Academy’s boys high school basketball team advanced in the PIAA state playoffs once again by defeating Mercyhurst Prep in blowout fashion with a 64-39 win last night in Sharon in one of the boys Class 2A PIAA semifinal games. This is the second straight year that the Panthers have advanced to the Class 2A PIAA championship game. Sophomore forward Mamadou Kane put up 21 points for the Panthers, which led all scorers.

Pennsylvania State Police and park rangers ramping up public safety preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of VisitPittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pennsylvania State Police and park rangers are ramping up public safety preparations at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle for the 2026 NFL Draft. According to Pennsylvania State Police Troop B Public Information Officer Rocco Gagliardi, representative from all sixteen troops have been working together for over a year to create emergency-ready plans for the three-day event, which is projected to bring 500,000 to 700,000 visitors. The draft is scheduled for April 23-25th. 

Former Steelers cornerback Darius Slay retires from football

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay looks on before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Nov. 9, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay announced yesterday on social media that he is retiring from football. The thirty-five-year-old Slay played in ten games for the Steelers last season and he recorded three passes defended, a fumble recovery and 36 total tackles during those games even though he started in nine out of those ten games. Slay won Super Bowl LIX (59) on February 9th, 2025 in New Orleans with the Philadelphia Eagles, made it to the Pro Bowl six times and was a NFL first-team All Pro in 2017. Slay had 28 interceptions, 163 passes defended and 655 tackles in his career that lasted for thirteen seasons. Slay also played for the Detroit Lions. He was claimed by the Buffalo Bills on waivers last December after he was released by the Steelers, but he did not report to the team. 

Malkin gets two goals in his return from suspension as the Penguins beat the NHL-leading Avalanche 7-2

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, back center, is congratulated after scoring a goal by defenseman Connor Clifton, back left, right wing Rickard Rakell, back right, and defenseman Ryan Shea in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, March 16, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored twice in a four-goal first period and added an assist in his return from a five-game suspension for slashing, sparking the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-2 victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.

Malkin’s punishment from the NHL was for raising his stick and striking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on the helmet and shoulder during their game on March 5. The 39-year-old Malkin has been suspended three times in his career.

Anthony Mantha, Elmer Soderblom, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Noel Acciari also scored for the Penguins, who matched their season high for goals on just 20 shots while playing for the 11th straight game without star center Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh’s leading scorer, who sustained a lower-body injury while playing for Canada in the Winter Olympics last month, has been skating with the team during this five-game trip that wraps up Wednesday.

Karlsson added two assists and has three goals and 11 assists in his last 10 games for the Penguins, who moved two points ahead of the New York Islanders for sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Nathan MacKinnon and Brent Burns scored for the Avalanche, who matched their most goals allowed in a game this season. Scott Wedgewood, the league leader in save percentage and goals-against average, was pulled 13 minutes in after falling behind 3-1 on five shots. Wedgewood was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 11 saves.

Colorado has lost three of four and leads Dallas in both the Central Division and overall NHL standings by three points. The Avalanche have one game in hand on the Stars.

Up next

Pittsburgh plays at Carolina on Wednesday.

Colorado hosts Dallas on Wednesday.