The Carolina Hurricanes' preseason opener didn't quite end the way they wanted it to on Sunday, but plenty of lessons were learned, and Rod Brind'Amour was complimentary of his group. They fought back from a two-goal deficit in the second period, but the Panthers' NHL lineup proved too much in a 6-3 loss for the Canes. Dominik Badinka, Justin Robidas, and Bradly Nadeau scored the goals.
Once again, the Hurricanes are icing a younger team for their home game against the Panthers. There are a few significant changes, with Mark Jankowski stepping into the lineup, Nicolas Deslauriers getting a chance to cause chaos, and Pierre-Olivier Joseph making his Canes preseason debut. Brandon Bussi and Cayden Primeau will serve as the goalie duo, with Bussi seemingly in line to start.
The #Canes have announced their roster for tomorrow's preseason contest against the Panthers at Lenovo Center.
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) September 21, 2026
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
The game will stream for free on the team's website (in-market) and on ESPN+ (out-of-market). pic.twitter.com/cOvAtjmsg3
Paul Maurice still hasn't released the Panthers' lineup, though he has already implied that it'll be another veteran-heavy group. He has advocated for a best-on-best preseason contest between the two sides, which is laughable. We're going to see these two play in one week in a game that actually matters. Why risk tensions getting so high that someone goes too far in a meaningless game?
Hurricanes to Watch
Mark Jankowski: It feels like a pretty safe assumption that Jankowski will be the team's fourth-line center on Opening Night next Tuesday. Still, there might've been a little competition coming into training camp. After Sunday's game didn't do Jesperi Kotkaniemi any favors in the eyes of the fans, Jankowski could leave no doubt with a solid performance tonight.
Nicolas Deslauriers: Getting work during the preseason is important for everyone, and Deslauriers is no exception, especially as someone who will likely be a healthy extra during the season. However, I can't help but feel like there's a little added intent in putting him in the lineup on Tuesday. We saw some fisticuffs in the third period on Sunday, and Deslauriers is known to enjoy punching people.
Charlie Cerrato: His first game with the big club was a mixed bag. Cerrato earned an assist on the power play to get his name on the scoresheet, doing some solid work while the Canes were a man up. It's clear that there is still a little development to go, but these opportunities are incredibly valuable. If anything, it confirms that he should be an excellent contributor for the Wolves this season.
Joel Nystrom: The race for the sixth spot on defense is easily the most intriguing for the Hurricanes this preseason. Charles Alexis Legault has done a great job during his appearances in the Prospect Showcase and on Sunday. Nystrom played a lot in Sunrise, and I think he's neck and neck with Legault for the spot. I'm intrigued by how he'll follow it up on Tuesday.
Brandon Bussi: Of course, Bussi being the starter for this game hasn't been made official yet, and Cayden Primeau could get the call. However, based on how they handled the first game, it seems like Bussi will go. With another younger team in front of him, Bussi will also likely see a lot of shots, giving him plenty of chances to see the puck.
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