Tonight, we will see two of the best teams in the NHL go to work. With the Carolina Hurricanes returning to their fortress at PNC Arena, they welcome one of the two teams that have beaten them twice this season as the Florida Panthers come to town, looking to complete the season sweep of the Canes. This game is going to be a great one and it’s one that can really outline weaknesses ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
Florida will make the trip to the City of Oaks as the number 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. With a win, Carolina could move to a point back of the number 1 seed Pittsburgh Penguins, and sit level on points with the Cats with 3 games in hand on their Metropolitan division rival. They would move ahead of the Panthers due to their game in hand too, assuming their victory is in regulation.
7-3 in their last 10, Florida is coming off a tough loss in their last game and are looking to bounce back as they travel to Raleigh. They need the two points to get back to winning ways, and after activating a few players off the injured reserve, the Panthers will be reinforced in this game with players that they haven’t had recently. It’s going to be a fun game, but it’s going to be a difficult tilt for both sides.
Carolina is coming off their failed comeback in Minnesota where they couldn’t overturn the 3-0 hole they dug themselves in that one. If they do that against Florida, they’re going to get blown out. Carolina looks to avoid the season sweep after losing in overtime to the cats during their last game in Raleigh and being blown out in the first period of their game in Sunrise, Florida.
This game does have the feel of unstoppable force vs immovable object as the highest-scoring offense in the NHL meets the team that’s given up the least amount of goals in the league. It should be a highly competitive contest and there’s a lot to watch out for in this game. That high-scoring offense is going to need quieting. If the Canes want to win, shushing that vaunted Florida forward core is the major key.