The Hurricanes lose in the shootout, but bigger issues emerge as Jarvis exits in OT

The Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers have grown accustomed to meeting each other when the stakes are highest. The Cats have prevailed twice when it mattered the most. Both teams entered Friday's clash on a roll, with the Canes trying to extend their win streak to a season-high six games after winning their fifth straight on Wednesday night in Nashville.

Brandon Bussi tried to write his name in the history books once again, seeking to break his tie with Cam Ward by winning his tenth straight start. Jordan Martinook, who exited Wednesday's contest with a lower-body injury, wasn't able to go tonight and was labeled as day-to-day. Jesperi Kotkaniemi played for the first time since the San Jose game. Sergei Bobrovsky took the net for the champs.

The pace of the first period was almost unlike anything we've seen this season. The Canes and the Panthers were skating up and down the ice at a fever pitch. Florida owned the edge in the play, but the Canes found the net first. Jordan Staal battled in front of the net to pot a loose puck. Bussi was outstanding, making every big stop he could, getting the Canes into the break with their 1-0 lead.

The lead stayed at one after the second period, though the Canes thought they'd momentarily extended it to two. Late in the frame, Seth Jarvis got one past Bobrovsky, but a league-initiated review determined he kicked it into the net, taking his 20th goal away from him. Instead, the Canes fought to keep their lead intact behind another perfect period from Bussi.

For half of the third period, the win felt inevitable. Sebastian Aho scored on a breakaway and on the power play to extend the lead to 3-0. However, the Canes couldn't hold it. Brad Marchand broke the shutout. Then, with Bobrovsky on the bench, Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart scored to tie the game, sending it to overtime.

There was no resolution during the five minutes, with the Panthers blocking shots and Bussi making big stops. In the shootout, the Panthers were simply one better. Reinhart snapped one in the second round, and while Jackson Blake scored another disgusting goal, Evan Rodrigues provided the difference maker in the fourth round, ending the Canes' and Bussi's winning streaks with a 4-3 win.

Everything was trending in the right direction for the Hurricanes

It's easy to look at the final result and forget everything that was going right for the Hurricanes. They were the better team tonight. The captain got it started by working hard in front of the crease. He was there to put home a loose puck, and the Canes, much like on Wednesday night, continued to play a sound brand of hockey through two periods, despite a continued push from the Panthers.

Then, Sebastian Aho took over the early portion of the third period, again, much like he did in Nashville. He scored a big breakaway goal, beating Bobrovsky cleanly after great work from Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov. Then, he was in the right spot to clean up a rebound on the power play. It really felt like the Hurricanes were going to come out of Sunrise with two points.

One play in the third period set off a chain reaction

The Canes' momentum came crashing down when Brad Marchand scored midway through the third period. Upon further investigation, it's clear as day why Brandon Bussi was out of position on the play. Marchand, no doubt deliberately, caught Bussi "between his pads" before scoring seconds later. The Canes didn't challenge the play, one they almost certainly would've won.

Hindsight will always say that the Canes should've challenged it. The situation made it feel like it was the right decision in the moment. The temperature of the game only ratcheted up from there, and that's exactly what the Panthers wanted. They rattled the Canes' cage, despite the solid pushback from the team. That's what cost them tonight's game.

Seth Jarvis's injury is the only thing that matters

Almost immediately after overtime began, the Hurricanes suffered an incredible loss. Seth Jarvis, as he has done several times throughout his career, entered the offensive zone with speed and tried to work around Evan Rodrigues' stick. In doing so, Rodrigues tripped him, sending Jarvis full steam into the post. It was immediately clear that something was wrong.

Through regulation, Jarvis was having a good night. He provided the secondary helper on each of Aho's goals in the third period, and he led the team with four shots. His final shot might be his last for a bit. After the game, Rod Brind'Amour said that Jarvis would be "out for a while", though the head coach's track record on injury reporting has been spotty at best.

Additional Thoughts

There is way too much from this game to talk about, so let's give Brandon Bussi his flowers. He put everything on the line to try and get his group the win. His 38 saves are a career high. It's a shame he couldn't break the franchise record, but Bussi deserves every bit of praise he is receiving. The win streak might be over, but the point streak lives on, tying him for second in team history at 10.

Everything that happened during the third period sets the stage for what is certain to be a lively game before Christmas in Raleigh. The Canes are going to be mad, mostly at themselves, for letting this one get away. The Panthers are going to be who they are, whether we like it or not. That game will be all about how the Canes choose to respond. Have your popcorn ready.

Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes will be right back on the ice on Saturday night, visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first time this season. The Canes and the Cats will connect once more on Tuesday night in Raleigh before the league breaks for Christmas. Upon returning, the team will host the Detroit Red Wings next Saturday night.