Mantha scores 2 goals to help the Penguins beat the Hurricanes 5-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Anthony Mantha scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Mantha, who scored in his third straight game, had a power-play goal in the first period and added another goal in the second as Pittsburgh jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Justin Brazeau set a career high with his 12th goal and added an assist. Tommy Novak had a goal and an assist, and Sidney Crosby scored his 21st of the season.

Erik Karlsson had two assists and passed Brad Park for the 14th-most points by a defenseman in NHL history. Bryan Rust also added two assists for the Penguins, who have won three of four following an eight-game losing streak.

Stuart Skinner made 27 saves and improved to 1-3 with the Penguins since they acquired him Dec. 12 from Edmonton in a trade that sent goalie Tristan Jarry to the Oilers.

Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost four of six.

Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for Carolina. He is 0-6-2 in his last eight starts and hasn’t won since Nov. 6 against Minnesota.

Crosby and the Penguins took advantage of a turnover behind the net to open a 1-0 lead 3:46 into the game.

Brazeau and Mantha made it 3-0 later in the period with goals 1:05 apart. Brazeau chipped a shot behind Andersen at 16:07 while falling to the ice on a partial breakaway, and Mantha scored a power-play goal at 17:12 from the top of the crease. Brett Kulak set up Brazeau’s breakaway with his 100th NHL assist.

Novak and Mantha scored in the final five minutes of the second period to make it 5-0. Noel Acciari screened Andersen on Novak’s shot from the high slot, and Mantha scored his second goal after a give-and-go with Brazeau.

The Hurricanes played again without top defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who missed Monday’s game against the New York Rangers with a lower-body injury.

Hurricanes: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Penguins: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pittsburgh Penguins' Anthony Mantha (39) celebrates his goal with Rickard Rakell (67) and Bryan Rust (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Justin Brazeau (16) gets a shot behind Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) for a goal with K'Andre Miller defending during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) blocks a shot by Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Justin Brazeau (16) celebrates his goal with Sidney Crosby (87) and Anthony Mantha during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Anthony Mantha (39) celebrates his second goal of the game during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

TORONTO (AP) — Kendall Coyne Schofield scored her league-leading sixth and seventh goals, Nicole Hensley shined with a 31-save outing, and the Minnesota Frost topped the Toronto Sceptres 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Katy Knoll, Britta Curl-Salemme and Grace Zumwinkle also scored for Minnesota. Taylor Heise had three assists.

Daryl Watts had the lone goal for Toronto. Elaine Chuli made 14 saves, with Raygan Kirk turning away two shots in relief in the third period.

Watts opened the scoring 4:55 into the contest when she backhanded a puck over Hensley’s right shoulder on a pass into the slot from Renata Fast.

Curl-Salemme put Minnesota ahead at 12:59. With one skate behind the goal line, some feet away from the end boards, Curl-Salemme fired it in off Chuli’s shoulder, who seemed to have to duck her head to not get hit by the shot.

Coyne Schofield made it a three-goal game with 4.4 seconds left in the second when her low backhand shot trickled in five-hole on Chuli, who was replaced by Kirk after the period.

Coyne Schofield added an empty-netter with 3:17 left after Toronto pulled Kirk for an extra attacker with 5:45 remaining.

With her first-period goal, Watts became the second PWHL player to have 50 career points, joining Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin (55).

Frost: Visit Ottawa on Saturday.

Sceptres: Host Seattle at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour on Saturday.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Minnesota Frost's Katy Knoll (6), left, celebrates her goal with teammate Britta Curl-Salemme (77) after scoring against the Toronto Sceptres during first period PWHL hockey action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Blayre Turnbull (40) crashes into the net as she collides with Minnesota Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley (29) during the second period of an PWHL hockey game in Toronto, on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Minnesota Frost celebrate their win against the Toronto Sceptres in PWHL hockey action in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Jesse Compher (18) shoots on Minnesota Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley (29) during second period PWHL hockey action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Frost's Kendall Coyne Schofield (26) sprints past Toronto Sceptres' Savannah Harmon (15) to score a breakaway empty net goal during third period PWHL hockey action in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)