2025-26 Regular Season, Game 34 Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers

Last Game: The Carolina Hurricanes began their three-game journey through the Southeast with a victory on Wednesday night in Nashville. Jackson Blake haunted the Predators once again, striking late in the first period to break through Juuse Saros. However, the Nashville netminder was the story of the night after 40 minutes. It was the only goal he allowed as the Canes assumed complete control of the contest. That changed early in the third period. Sebastian Aho snapped his five-game scoreless drought by burying a shot on the power play from the slot to double the lead. Less than two minutes later, Aho set up Seth Jarvis in transition for a one-timer to earn him his 19th goal of the season. The Predators fought back, getting a goal from Filip Forsberg to bring them within two. Pyotr Kochetkov was a brick wall the rest of the way. He finished the night with 25 stops. Aho added one more into the empty net to complete a three-point night, Blake and Andrei Svechnikov each recorded two points, and the Canes won handily, 4-1. 

Injury Report

Jordan Martinook: Exiting Wednesday's game in the second period and missing the third, it's unclear the extent of his injury after the team had Thursday off.

The Opponent: Florida Panthers (18-13-2, 38 Points; 5th in the Atlantic Division)

Last Season's Meetings: The first meetings of the season were a home-and-home right after Thanksgiving. With their goalies on the shelf, the Canes turned to Spencer Martin for both games. On Black Friday in Raleigh, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes, but the Canes fought back to even things up. Florida regained the lead early and used it to win 6-3 to open the set. 12 of Florida's 18 skaters recorded a point. The following day, the Panthers held a 1-0 lead late in the second period, where it felt it would stand. However, Mackie Samoskevich scored on the power play with under a second left on the clock. This appeared to open the floodgates. The Panthers scored four more times in the third to win it 6-0. The Canes drew into the win column in the third meeting shortly after New Year's. Pyotr Kochetkov outdueled Sergei Bobrovsky, and Jaccob Slavin scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period to help the Canes avoid a season sweep.

When it all mattered, the Hurricanes didn't have an answer for the Panthers during the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three years. Unlike their 2023 series, this wasn't particularly close, even though it went a game longer than the first. The Panthers took both games in Raleigh, winning 5-2 and 5-0, to take a 2-0 lead. They used a big third period to break Game 3 open, winning 6-2 to push the Canes to the brink. Sensing another sweep was incoming, the Canes locked in for Game 4. Logan Stankoven scored midway through the second to break the deadlock before Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal scored into the empty net to keep their hopes alive and snap an 11-game conference finals losing streak, dating back to 2009. The Panthers finished the job in Game 5 once the series returned to Raleigh. The Canes led 2-0 and tied it 3-3 in the third, but the defending champs were too much. Four Panthers finished with seven points in the series, and Sergi Bobrovsky only allowed eight goals in five games. Seth Jarvis led the Canes with six points, while Sebastian Aho scored four of the team's eight goals.

Since We Last Met: The Panthers used their win over the Hurricanes to capture a second straight Stanley Cup. However, there was speculation regarding whether or not they could afford to keep their team intact, especially with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad all heading toward free agency. In the week leading up to July 1, they managed to get all three re-signed at just under $20 million combined. It felt impossible, but they did it, bringing with it a disappointing open to free agency. They also inked Niko Mikkola to a new deal shortly before the season began. However, the offseason came with some casualties. Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the remainder of the regular season after the 4 Nations tournament, had surgery that would keep him out for about half of the season. Then, Aleksander Barkov tore his ACL and MCL during practice, likely keeping him out for the entire regular season, with a postseason return in the air. The league felt little sympathy for them, and the Panthers didn't seem to mind. In the hellscape that is the Eastern Conference this season, these injuries have played a part, but the Panthers remain deep in the thick of things. Brad Marchand is tied for 7th in goals (19), along with Seth Jarvis, and he leads the team in points (37). Sam Reinhart isn't far behind with 17. They have five players with at least ten goals and six with at least 20 points. While their offense misses both Tkachuk and Barkov, it's doing just fine. Defensively, things aren't as in sync. They're in the middle of the pack in goals allowed and goals allowed per game, and Bobrovsky hasn't been quite as solid. Offseason addition Daniil Tarasov has been solid, though sparingly used. They'll be in a better spot when Tkachuk returns in the next few weeks, so long as they stay afloat until then.

Stories to Watch

1. Old wounds get reopened

Most of the Florida roster remains, as does most of the Hurricanes' lineup from their encounter in May, so this should be a very feisty game, especially since the two teams meet again next Tuesday. The Canes should want a taste of what the Panthers have felt over the last two seasons. Both teams enter tonight's game playing good hockey. The Canes have wins in five straight, while the Cats have won six of seven after falling right to .500 (12-12-2). With plenty of bad blood between them and the mere existence of Brad Marchand, this game could be full of fireworks.

2. Are they giving Bussi the Florida assignment?

What a time to be alive for Brandon Bussi, the team's best goalie this season, to face the defending champions and the team that placed him on waivers in the first place for a chance to make franchise history. Normally, I would be up in arms about it, especially after the team had no choice but to play Spencer Martin in those games last November. Now, they might actively be starting him against the Panthers. It's possible they don't, but I'm putting my money on Bussi being in the net tonight.