The Hurricanes take their preseason show on the road as they travel to Tampa Bay

While it's only the preseason, the Carolina Hurricanes are still searching for their first victory after dropping another game on Wednesday. The Canes controlled most of the contest, getting goals from Ryan Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the first period. However, four goals in the final 20 minutes helped the Panthers stun Carolina in a 4-2 conquest over a veteran roster.

Tonight marks the third game of the preseason for Givani Smith, Kevin Labanc, and Bradly Nadeau. We'll also get our first looks at William Carrier, Gleb Trikozov, and Bryce Montgomery. Carrier and Kotkaniemi are the only regulars from last season's lineup who will dress for the Canes, with the rest of the team comprised of prospects and new additions.

On the Other Side: Tampa Bay Lightning

It remains unclear how the Lightning will stack up against this Hurricanes lineup on Friday night. The Bolts iced a young lineup for the meeting on Monday when they defeated the Canes, 2-1, at the Lenovo Center. Emil Lilleberg and Mitchell Chaffee scored for Tampa, while Logan Stankoven, who won't be in the lineup, scored the Canes' lone goal.

One player the Hurricanes won't have to worry about is former Vezina winner Andrei Vasilevskiy. Per Jon Cooper, he's receiving treatments and won't be in the lineup for either of Tampa's games this weekend. Brayden Point was also amongst the group not at practice on Thursday, though preseason lineups are often so wild that practice appearances don't mean much.

Hurricanes to Watch

Givani Smith: Few players have impressed this preseason more than Givani Smith, who is with the Hurricanes on a PTO. While fighting for a roster spot in the NHL, he's done a great job at improving his stock with his play through two games. It has been a mixture of physicality and offensive prowess that has helped him make a positive impression.

Smith was responsible for the viral moment of the night on Wednesday, dropping the gloves with Florida's Ben Harpur at the exact moment Ryan Suzuki redirected a shot into the net during the first period. He has caught Rod Brind'Amour's attention, giving the veteran praise following Wednesday's loss.

Amir Miftakhov: There's no hiding the fact that switching goalies for the third period had a direct impact on how Wednesday's game ended. Amir Miftakhov didn't make a good first impression. He misplayed a puck behind the net, allowing Florida to tie the game in an empty net. Over a minute later, he got lazy with his stick as a cupcake hit his blade and trickled over the line for the game winner.

Miftakhov will dress for Friday's contest, though it's unclear whether he'll be the starter. Prospect Nikita Quapp will be the other goalie to dress. He was fine during the rookie showcase, though he had a tough outing in their finale against the Bolts' prospects. This has the potential to either be a great redemption story or a disaster waiting to happen.

Gleb Trikozov: With several prospects in the lineup for the Canes, guys like Nadeau, Nikishin, and Robidas will hog some of the headlines. That's why I'm looking a little further down the chart at Gleb Trikozov. The 2022 2nd-rounder suffered a high-ankle sprain that cost him nearly three months, limiting him to three points in 20 games with the Chicago Wolves last season.

Trikozov failed to leave a positive mark during the rookie tournament. He was one of the few low points during their opening shootout loss to Florida, and he failed to do much else during the final two games. Making his preseason debut, this could be a good chance for him to turn things in the right direction before the AHL season begins.