Several regulars set to dress as the Carolina Hurricanes give back to the community

After a tough start to the preseason on Monday, the Carolina Hurricanes will ice a much more experienced team in their second contest on Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers. Logan Stankoven scored the lone goal in the team's 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. With more experience in the lineup comes the hope that we'll see some magic.

Unlike their opener, this roster features more of the NHL team. It makes plenty of sense to get the big guys out as the Hurricanes give back to the community. Per the team, all ticket revenue will go towards local nonprofit organizations and community programs. Last season, the team's foundation raised $1.7 million throughout the campaign.

A few players are pulling double duty for this contest. Along with the preseason debuts for guys like Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov, the Canes are sending Bradly Nadeau, Felix Unger Sorum, Givani Smith, Charles-Alexis Legault, and Kevin Labanc back out for their second games of the preseason.

Know the Enemy: Florida Panthers

Like the Hurricanes, this is the second preseason game for the Panthers. They opened their preseason schedule on Sunday with a 5-0 loss to the Predators in Nashville. The Panthers didn't dress any players from their postseason roster in the loss, meaning it's likely we'll see a familiar face or two when they visit Raleigh on Wednesday night.

The Canes and the Cats split their preseason tilts a season ago, with each side prevailing at home. Carolina cruised past an AHL-caliber roster in Raleigh, getting three points from Sean Walker and two goals from Jarvis in an 8-2 win. The Panthers got it back the next night, coming back from a 4-1 deficit to beat the Canes in overtime, 5-4.

Hurricanes to Watch

Nikolaj Ehlers: There's a lot of anticipation to see the established Hurricanes in the lineup, but no one will garner more headlines for their first outing than Nikolaj Ehlers. After a decade in Winnipeg, Ehlers was the team's biggest addition of the offseason, inking him to a six-year deal. Now, the fans are getting their first look at what the team's top line could look like.

When healthy, Ehlers is a consistent 20-25-goal, 60-65-point player. Over the last few seasons, injuries have hampered his success. He also wasn't playing top-line minutes with the Jets, despite being one of their better scorers. With a change of scenery, while the expectations grow, there's a better chance for him to thrive next to Aho.

Ivan Ryabkin: I've been very bullish on Ivan Ryabkin since the Hurricanes drafted him late in the second round in June. This has the opportunity to be a massive selection for the Canes, getting a first-round talent near the end of the round. He was one of the standouts for the prospect team last weekend, scoring a goal in their finale loss to the Lightning.

While Ryabkin won't be making the Hurricanes out of camp this season, this is still a very important training camp for the newly signed prospect. Ryabkin is likely playing for a chance to join the Chicago Wolves as an 18-year-old. He's eligible to be sent back to juniors without burning a year of his entry-level deal. If he impresses on Wednesday, it could mean solidifying his spot in the AHL.

Amir Miftakhov: With Frederik Andersen also expected to dress for this game, I'd anticipate that he'll be the first in the net for the Canes on Wednesday. However, it's presently unclear whether he'll play part of the contest or all 60 minutes. We've seen several teams throughout the preseason play their starters for a period or two before giving them the hook, so Rod Brind'Amour could do the same.

If Amir Miftakhov gets a look tonight, he'll have a big performance to follow after Cayden Primeau tore the house down on Monday, albeit in a losing effort. Signed out of the KHL this offseason, Miftakhov is no stranger to the North American game, playing the 2021-22 season in Tampa's system. If he shows out, it could be a sign of good things to come in Chicago this season.