2024-25 Regular Season, Game 38 Preview: Hurricanes at Florida Panthers

The Carolina Hurricanes ended 2024 on a slightly sour note in Columbus on New Year's Eve. Kirill Marchenko continued to terrorize the Canes, opening the scoring less than five minutes into the game after being left alone in front of Pyotr Kochetkov. Ty Smith, playing his second game as Shayne Gostisbehere remains out, scored his first goal with the Hurricanes on the power play, getting a friendly bounce off a Jackets' stick to knot the game. Marchenko struck again late in the period, beating a downed Kochetkov for his second of the night. The Canes took control of the contest in the second period, scoring twice to capture the lead. Seth Jarvis laid a perfect saucer pass onto Jack Roslovic's stick as he crashed the net to score his 17th goal of the season. Jesperi Kotkaniemi added one less than three minutes later, finishing a backhander past Elvis Merzlikins. Early in the third period, Dmitri Voronkov got a lucky bounce off Jarvis' leg on the power play to tie the game at three. Neither team would score for the remainder of the third, nor would they score in overtime, sending the game to a shootout. The Canes had the lead through two rounds, but Columbus tied it and took the lead to earn the second point with their second shootout victory over Carolina this season.

The Opponent: Florida Panthers (23-13-2, 48 Points- 2nd in the Atlantic Division)

Last Meeting: Playing the second half of a home-and-home in Sunrise after Thanksgiving, the Canes probably want to forget this game exists. The Panthers had just won in Raleigh the afternoon before and, for the most part, this game had been very even. Aaron Ekblad opened the scoring in the second period against Spencer Martin, who was starting his second game in as many days. The Canes looked primed to get into the third period down a goal, but Mackie Samoskevich scored in the final second of the period to deflate the Canes. In the third period, the Panthers opened it up. Scoring three more times, the Cats chased Martin for Yaniv Perets. One more goal on the power play, their third of the game, would finish it for good. Florida handed the Canes a 6-0 lashing to finish a daunting Thanksgiving week for Carolina. 

Since We Last Met: The Panthers had a strong December, going 8-4-1 after a road-heavy start to the month that featured a five-game West Coast swing. While they had a good record, their goal differential was even with all four of their regulation losses being shutouts. This includes back-to-back home shutout losses to Tampa Bay before Christmas and Montreal after the break. They got back in the win column on Monday night in a 5-3 victory against the New York Rangers. The Canes will be the fourth visitors during a five-game homestand for the Cats. Their homestand will conclude tomorrow night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sam Reinhart has continued to build off his career season by scoring 22 goals thus far this season, sitting tied for fifth in the league. His 45 points also pace the team, ten more than Matthew Tkachuk in second. The goaltending still hasn't been spectacular. Despite a 17-7-1 record, Sergei Bobrovsky has a save percentage below .900 and a GAA nearing 3.00. However, both he and Spencer Knight become nearly unbeatable against the Hurricanes. 

Stories of the Night

1. It's a New Year and Month

With December 2024 in the rear-view mirror, January 2025 has come around and it's going to be a tough start to the month for the Hurricanes. Along with the Panthers tonight, they face five more playoff or fringe playoff teams over the next two weeks. The Canes feel like they're comfortably in a playoff spot right now, there is still work to be done to get into the Top 2 in the division and home ice for the first round. The month doesn't start with a fun opponent and it's only getting tougher from there. If the Canes can start with a big win tonight, I like their prospects during a tough January. 

2. Seeking Redemption in Sunrise

When the Hurricanes visited Sunrise after Thanksgiving, they were in a very different situation. The team was without its Top 2 goalies, relying on Spencer Martin to play both halves of the home-and-home. While not Martin's fault, the Canes were laughed out of the building. With this being the final meeting of the season series, the Canes need a better effort against the defending champs. Obviously, the Panthers will make that task tough. 

3. Incoming Debut?

I speculated that Tyson Jost might not be available for tonight's game after coming up lame in the third period on Tuesday. The team called up Juha Jaaska on Wednesday, bringing speculation that Jaaska might be making his NHL debut tonight in Sunrise. Jaaska was signed by the Canes this offseason out of Finland, and he has been good in Chicago this season, recording 16 points in 25 games. It's not guaranteed that Jaaska is in the lineup, even if Jost can't go. Rod Brind'Amour could opt for the 11/7 approach, meaning Riley Stillman would be making his Canes debut. Either way, a debut of some kind feels imminent.