The Florida Panthers are bracing for another pivotal moment in their rollercoaster NHL season as they prepare to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. With the puck set to drop at 7 p.m. at Lenovo Center, the stakes couldn't be higher for a Panthers squad navigating both the rigors of a compressed schedule and the ever-present battle for playoff positioning.
As the league accommodates a three-week hiatus for the Winter Olympics, the Panthers—like every other NHL team—have found themselves in the thick of a relentless slate: back-to-backs, three games in four days, and hardly a moment to catch a breath. This past week was a microcosm of that challenge. Florida started strong, dispatching the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, then staging a thrilling rally to edge out the Hurricanes in a shootout on Friday. But the grind caught up with them on Saturday, as the St. Louis Blues handed the Panthers a humbling 6-2 defeat.
That loss, coming at the tail end of a grueling stretch, left head coach Paul Maurice with a decision to make. Initially 50-50 on whether to hold a Monday practice, Maurice ultimately chose rest over more ice time. By Sunday afternoon, the call was official: no practice before the Panthers hit the road for Raleigh. "There is not much to say. You’re going to go through it at some points in the year," said forward Sam Reinhart after the loss to St. Louis. "It’s all about recovery now and regrouping. We have another big one before the Christmas break. We have been playing our best hockey in the biggest moments against some of the best teams. Recovery and rest is important, especially at this time of year."
The Panthers will certainly need their legs under them for Game No. 36, as the Hurricanes are always a tough out—especially on home ice. Florida leads the current regular season series 1-0, thanks to a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over Carolina just last Friday. That win was both a confidence boost and a reminder of how thin the margins are between these Eastern Conference contenders. In fact, the Panthers have had Carolina's number of late, having won the last regular season meeting 2-1 and besting the Hurricanes in both the 2023 and 2025 Eastern Conference Finals.
But the Panthers’ lineup on Tuesday remains a question mark, especially with young winger Mackie Samoskevich’s status up in the air. Samoskevich, 23, was held out against the Blues with a lower-body injury sustained during the previous clash with Carolina. His last shift ended with 4:43 remaining in the third period of that contest. The team has listed him as day-to-day, and as of now, his availability for the Hurricanes rematch is unknown. If Samoskevich can’t go, expect Jack Studnicka to slot in once again, as he did on Saturday.
Samoskevich’s absence would be felt. He’s tallied four goals and 17 points through 34 games this season, and while his shooting percentage hovers at a modest 5.3 percent, both he and the Panthers believe he’s due for a hot streak. If his luck turns, matching last year’s 15-goal mark isn’t out of the question. For a team that’s clawing for every possible point in the standings, every bit of offensive punch matters.
On the other side of the ice, the Hurricanes are dealing with injury woes of their own. Key contributors Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin have both been ruled out week-to-week with upper-body injuries, thinning Carolina’s depth at a critical juncture. It’s a blow for the Hurricanes, who have historically leaned on their defensive structure and top-end talent to stay competitive in the cutthroat Metropolitan Division.
With both teams banged up and hungry for points, the stage is set for a game that could have serious playoff implications down the line. The Panthers, in particular, are sitting just one point behind third place in the Atlantic Division and one point back of the final wild card spot. A win in Raleigh could catapult Florida back into a playoff position—or at the very least, keep them within striking distance as the season barrels toward its midpoint.
For the Panthers, the upcoming contest is also their last before a much-needed three-day Christmas break. After Tuesday, they won’t take the ice again until December 27, when they’ll face the Tampa Bay Lightning in what promises to be a heated rematch. That brief respite will be a welcome chance to recharge, especially as the team eyes another deep playoff run.
Speaking of history, the Panthers are riding high after back-to-back Stanley Cup triumphs in 2024 and 2025—a rare feat in the modern NHL. The franchise’s recent run of success has energized the fan base and raised expectations for this season. And there’s more cause for celebration on the horizon: the Panthers will honor veteran forward Brad Marchand’s 1,000th NHL point with a pregame ceremony at Amerant Bank Arena on December 30, before their matchup with the Montreal Canadiens. Marchand, who reached the milestone with two assists in a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals on November 13, is the first player in franchise history to notch his 1,000th point while wearing a Panthers sweater. At 37, he’s the 102nd skater in league history—and only the 12th active player—to hit that mark. He also joins an elite group as the fifth Nova Scotia-born player to reach 1,000 points, alongside legends like Sidney Crosby, Al MacInnis, Bobby Smith, and Nathan MacKinnon.
Tickets for the Panthers’ regular season games, including the upcoming ceremony for Marchand, are on sale now—a testament to the team’s growing popularity and the excitement that’s taken hold in South Florida.
Looking back, the Panthers’ dominance over Carolina in recent years is hard to ignore. Florida swept the Hurricanes in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals and dispatched them in five games in the 2025 edition, giving the Panthers a 2-0 edge in postseason history. While regular season meetings don’t carry quite the same weight, the rivalry has grown increasingly fierce, with each encounter serving as a litmus test for both clubs.
As the Panthers rest up and get set for Tuesday’s showdown, all eyes will be on Raleigh. Will Florida’s extra day off translate into fresh legs and a crucial win? Can the Hurricanes overcome their own injury setbacks to even the season series? With the playoff race tightening and every point at a premium, there’s no room for error—and no shortage of drama.
For now, the Panthers are focused on recovery, resilience, and the opportunity ahead. Tuesday’s game against the Hurricanes isn’t just another date on the calendar—it’s a chance to make a statement, solidify their place in the playoff chase, and head into the holiday break with momentum on their side.