Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (31-17-14, 76 points, 3rd place Metropolitan Division) @ Carolina Hurricanes (35-22-5, 75 points, 5th place Atlantic Division)
Pittsburg, PA
Carney: Like City Of Pittsburgh, Steelers Need To Embrace Innovation With Next Head Coach
For decades, the city of Pittsburgh was built on the foundation of being a hard-working city, one centered on the steel mills and blue-collar ethos that went into that way of making a living.
That hard-nosed, blue-collar mentality eventually rubbed off on the Pittsburgh Steelers on the gridiron, connecting the franchise with the city forever in the 1970s when the Steelers went on that dynastic run. That mentality has carried over for generations, too. It’s how the Steelers still operate, remaining a defense-first organization that values physical football.
But, as the city itself has over the last two decades or so, it’s time for the Steelers to adjust and embrace change. Pittsburgh became widely recognized across the United States as a significant health care and innovation hub, transitioning away from the steel mills and other manual-labor positions.
Though the need for those manual-labor jobs and the true hard-working class remains, Pittsburgh has embraced change and is thriving.
It’s time for the Steelers to do the same, especially since they now find themselves searching for a new head coach for the first time in 19 years.
No longer can the Steelers focus on playing a similar brand of football that made them successful throughout their modern history. The game of football is constantly changing and evolving, and the Steelers have to get out of the antiquated mindset and adjust to the league, too.
That’s why I personally believe the Steelers should get in early on Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and give him the opportunity to be their next head coach. He’s a hot, up-and-coming offensive mind who has learned under Sean McVay for two years in the NFL. He also had a long track record of success in college under both Lovie Smith and Matt Campbell.
It would go against the mold of what the Steelers have done the last three times they’ve hired a head coach, landing a young, defensive-minded coach to oversee the franchise. But like the city itself, sometimes you need to change your identity somewhat to experience that next level of success.
That’s not to say that the Steelers shouldn’t hire a defensive-minded head coach like Chris Shula, Jesse Minter, Brian Flores, Anthony Weaver or Ejiro Evero. There’s still a place for them in today’s NFL, if their teams are built correctly. Just look at the Seattle Seahawks (Mike MacDonald), Houston Texans (DeMeco Ryans), Buffalo Bills (Sean McDermott) and New England Patriots (Mike Vrabel) as examples.
What those coaches did, though, was hand the reins of the offense to innovative play-callers, giving them free rein to do as they saw fit. That didn’t really happen in Pittsburgh under Tomlin, especially after the Killer B’s era. The Steelers went back to a conservative approach built on running the football, throwing outside of the numbers and mitigating risk in the passing game.
Though Tomlin found a way to win regular-season games time and time again with that method, especially in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era, it never worked in the playoffs. What does work in the playoffs is an aggressive offensive approach, while still having talent on the defensive side of the football that can play fast and free.
There is still a need to run the football and lean on the big men in the trenches on both sides of the ball to win games, especially in the playoffs. But in today’s NFL, you need the quarterback and a sustainable passing game to work. That hasn’t been the case with the Steelers.
So it’s time for change, from the head coach to the rest of the coaching staff, the roster, and even the organizational philosophy.
It’s no longer about the Jimmies and the Joes being better than the opponent and winning their individual matchups based solely on talent. Schematics are so important in today’s game, and the Steelers just haven’t been able to match up there.
Pittsburgh doesn’t have to completely abandon its defensive identity and hard-nosed culture, which it’s been built on for years. But it does need to shift and adapt to the times. And that starts with the hiring of the head coach.
Pittsburg, PA
How Pittsburgh area drivers can save money on gas as prices rise during the war with Iran
Until the prices at the gas pump start to come down, we’re all looking for a way to trim our spending on fuel. The good news is that there are a number of ways to do that, and they just might be in your wallet or on your phone right now.
Whether it’s credit card reward programs or brand loyalty programs, finding a discount at the gas station is easier than you might think.
Most major gas stations either have loyalty programs or memberships that can save you money. There’s also the option of using AAA to find some savings.
On your phone, there are several apps and options that can save you money, like GasBuddy or Waze.
“The Auto Club app, which is our app, it actually will guide you toward the least expensive fuel in the area near you,” explained Jim Garrity of AAA East Central.
Both AAA and AARP have deals with Shell, where members can get five cents off a gallon.
Meanwhile, if you’re getting your shopping done at one of the warehouse, wholesale stores such as Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco, part of your membership is a gas discount, which is usually at least 10 cents cheaper.
Even if you aren’t a member of one of these wholesale stores, many grocery stores have rewards programs that can get you a discount at gas stations.
Garrity said there are also things you can do behind the wheel that can save you money on gas, starting with slowing down.
“Essentially, for every five miles over 50 miles an hour you’re driving, we found that you’re decreasing your fuel economy exponentially,” he explained.
He also said that drivers should avoid jack rabbit starts – basically pushing down on the gas pedal instead of easing off the brake and putting slight pressure on the gas pedal. Drivers also should make sure that they’re keeping up with regular maintenance.
“They save up pennies that over time really add up,” he said.
Obviously, changing your driving habits is hard, especially because you don’t see immediate results, and that can lead to frustration.
Using those memberships, rewards programs, and discount resources, that’s real money and more immediate.
Pittsburg, PA
Steelers Add Year to Cam Heyward’s Contract, Creating Cap Space
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have some clarity on Cameron Heyward’s short-term future with the team.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, the Steelers have added an extra year to Heyward’s deal. As a result, they freed up right around $5.5 million in cap space.
SOURCES: The Steelers have added a year to DE Cam Heyward’s contract, creating nearly $5.5 million in cap space. His new deal is worth $32.25 million over two years with the first year guaranteed.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 10, 2026
Heyward’s contract is now worth $32.25 million across two seasons, though only the first of those two years is guaranteed.
The reigning second-team All-Pro previously had one year left on his contract, which carried a cap hit of $19.150 million.
Heyward’s deal was a source of contention during training camp last summer, as the 15-year veteran looked to negotiate his contract after previously having agreed to a two-year, $29 million extension leading into the 2024 campaign.
The 36-year-old, who was a first-team All-Pro that year, later compromised with Pittsburgh after it added a little over $3 million in incentives to his contract before Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Over 17 games, Heyward recorded a total of 3.5 sacks and 78 tackles with a forced fumble.
With it appearing set in stone that he’ll return for the 2026 season after agreeing to his modified deal, the question now becomes whether or not Heyward will play out the duration of his contract through 2027.
What Could Steelers Do with Extra Money?
Pittsburgh was rather active both shortly before and immediately after the legal tampering period began, re-signing cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and linebacker Cole Holcomb while also signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Jamel Dean and acquiring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. via trade from the Indianapolis Colts, whom it immediately inked to a three-year, $59 million extension.
It’s been a bit quiet for the Steelers since that initial wave, however, with punter Cameron Johnston representing their only move on the second day of free agency.
There’s still plenty of names out there on the open market, and with needs remaining along the offensive line, at safety and receiver even after adding Pittman Jr., the action shouldn’t stop for Pittsburgh.
While quarterback remains the most substantial question mark for the Steelers on paper, the widespread assumption remains that Aaron Rodgers will eventually return to the franchise. When that decision will, or could, become official, though, is anyone’s best guess at the moment.
The money Pittsburgh saved by revising Heyward’s contract could help fill out its roster not only through free agency, but also via the 2026 NFL Draft now that it has 12 picks at its disposal upon being awarded four compensatory selections.
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Pittsburg, PA
Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Carolina Hurricanes 3/10/2026
How to Watch: Local broadcasts on FanDuel Sports Network South and SportsNet Pittsburgh, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins are heading out West later this week to play some late-night games against the Vegas Golden Knights (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET), Utah Mammoth (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET) and Colorado Avalanche (Monday, 9:30 p.m. ET). Then it’s back for a rematch with the Hurricanes in North Carolina next Wednesday.
Opponent Track: The Hurricanes are still on top of the Metro, and they’ve won seven of their last nine, but they’re coming off a loss in Calgary that featured a wild five-goal third period last Saturday.
Season Series: The Penguins won this last matchup 5-1 on Dec. 30. Next up is that road game next Wednesday, followed four days later by a 3 p.m. ET Sunday matinee in Pittsburgh.
Hidden Stat: The Penguins haven’t won in Carolina since March 2019. The visitors are 0-4-4 in eight matchups over that span.
Getting to know the Hurricanes
Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook
William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Mike Reilly – Alexander Nikishin
Goalies: Brandon Bussi, Frederik Andersen
Potential scratches: Shayne Gostisbehere (day to day)
Injured Reserve: Charles-Alexis Legault, Pyotr Kochetkov, Nicolas Deslauriers
- Gostisbehere missed the Hurricanes’ Saturday loss to the Flames with a lower-body injury. Mike Reilly will likely slide out of this lineup if he is able to go.
- Nicolas Deslauriers has yet to make his Hurricanes debut since his trade from the Philadelphia Flyers. If the Canes decide to slot him into the lineup Monday night, he would slot into their fourth line.
- The Hurricanes have historically been a tough matchup for the Pens, but the Penguins could take some lessons from the Flames. Calgary got beaten on face-offs (52.5 percent to 47.5 percent) and 5-on-5 scoring chances (24 to 21) while holding strong on hits (26-20) and getting some nice saves from Dustin Wolf to claim a 5-4 win over the Canes on Saturday.

Egor Chinakhov – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Tommy Novak – Ville Koivunen
Elmer Soderblom – Ben Kindel – Avery Hayes
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Ilya Solovyov
Goalies: Arturs Silovs, Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Evgeni Malkin (suspended), Ryan Graves, Connor Clifton, Kevin Hayes, Justin Brazeau (day to day)
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander
- Jack St. Ivany is off IR. He’s headed to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning loan, per Seth Rorabaugh.
- Justin Breazeau’s status is uncertain after he was sidelined against the Bruins on Sunday with a day-to-day upper-body injury.
- Today should also lead to more information on whether Sidney Crosby is joining the team for the upcoming five-game road trip. Dane Muse said Sunday that decision would be made after the matchup against the Boston Bruins.
- Evgeni Malkin is set to miss the third game of his five-game suspension tonight. He won’t be eligible to return until the Penguins rematch against the Hurricanes next week.
- It’s a milestone game for Kyle Dubas, who has served as general manager for 600 career games, per Pens PR. A win tonight would tie him with Steve Yzerman for the 14th-most wins through that milestone with 326 victories.
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