For the second time in less than a week, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers locked horns. Their battle last Friday night was a spirited one that saw the Canes blow a 3-0 third-period lead before losing 4-3 in a shootout. It was a devastating loss that came at an immense toll for the group, with Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis each exiting with injuries.
As expected, the Canes were without Slavin, Jarvis, Jordan Martinook, and William Carrier on Tuesday night, forcing the team to dress seven defensemen. Frederik Andersen made his first start since December 4 against Toronto. It was the same group for Florida minus Mackie Samoskevich, meaning Sergei Bobrovsky was manning the net for the Panthers.
The start didn't feel as spirited as I expected, but that might've been to the Canes' advantage. They struck first again tonight. Eric Robinson finished a transition chance set up by Sebastian Aho and the returning Joel Nystrom under Bobrovsky's glove. The Panthers gained a little traction at the end of the period, but the Canes maintained their 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Having to kill a penalty to start the second, the Canes turned it into a positive after finishing the job. Andrei Svechnikov, the guilty Hurricane, was sprung on a breakaway by Jordan Staal, and he put it five-hole on Bobrovsky to double the advantage. The Canes were more thorough in the middle frame, keeping the Cats at bay to hold their 2-0 lead through two periods.
The team that came out for the third period forgot how to play hockey. Niko Mikkola scored after his shot hit Alexander Nikishin's skate, and it was like they completely surrendered. Luke Kunin and Anton Lundell scored 43 seconds apart to take the lead. Sam Bennett spun and fired one home. Seth Jones added another on the power play. The Canes mustered no offense in the third, falling 5-2.
That 3rd period was easily their worst of the season, and it's not close
I was very tempted to file a missing person report for all 19 players on the ice in the third period. It's almost unbelievable how poorly the Hurricanes played in the third after being lightyears better than the Panthers through 40 minutes. The Canes were skating circles around the Panthers for two periods in almost every facet of the game.
The first goal they allowed was simply an unfortunate bounce. There was nothing anyone could've done about it. Everything after that was unacceptable. Even Sam Bennett's goal, which was aided by a bounce off the stanchion, was completely misplayed by the defense. It's almost like they stopped playing after Florida got on the board.
Stuck in the crosshairs was Frederik Andersen. I thought he was playing well, albeit without much work for 40 minutes. It felt like he was starting to turn the corner before his team gave up in front of him. The Panthers nearly doubled their shot total in the third period, and there wasn't anything Andersen could've done about it as he suffered another loss.
Additional Thoughts
As if we needed another thing to be concerned about, Alexander Nikishin left in the third period. It was reported after the game that he was icing his ankle. I'm not sure if he blocked a shot or if he twisted it, but that will be something to worry about during the Christmas break. Hopefully, it isn't anything too bad.
If we want to find silver linings for everything in life, the Canes maintain a slim edge atop the division and the conference heading into the holiday. These last three games have been unlike anything I can recall. The Lightning and the Panthers (twice) have found ways to make the Canes forget how to play their game. They need these three days as much as we do, if not more.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes will return to action after the holiday break by hosting the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night at the Lenovo Center. Next week, they'll conclude the calendar year with a divisional back-to-back. The New York Rangers will be in town on Monday night before the Canes venture to Pittsburgh to face Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in their final game of 2025.