Florida: 12-7-4 (28PTS)
Carolina: 8-13-4 (20PTS)
Season Series: 0-0-0
Game Time: 7 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Carolinas
Radio: 560 WQAM
The Panthers have a decent start this season, but now the true test awaits. Tonight’s Southeast Divisional matchup pits two wildly divergent teams against each other: the surprise division-leading Panthers and the bottom-dwelling Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes will be playing their first game under their new head coach Kirk Muller, who replaced fired coach Paul Maurice today. The Hurricanes may also be breaking in a new player: Andreas Nodl, picked up on waivers from the Flyers. Starting tonight, the Cats play 6 of their next 7 on the road. After getting only 1 point in a home-and-home against the Lightning last weekend, the Panthers need to win some divisional games to keep or extend their 3 point lead on the Washington Capitals, another team that got a new coach today. If the Panthers want to prove their start was no fluke, they need to start a win streak tonight in Raleigh.
More from our Carolina cohorts at Canes Country.
Panthers vs Hurricanes coverage at SB Nation.
TSN Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
The Hurricanes beat the Panthers 3-1 in Carolina in a post-trade deadline game in March.
Last game
The Lightning beat a tired Panthers team for the second game straight. The game was as one-sided as the game’s 5-1 score would indicate. It was a great night for the Lightning and for Marty St. Louis, who scored his 300th goal in the win. For the Panthers and Jacob Markstrom, it was not so good.
Lineup
Jacob Markstrom and Michal Repik were returned to San Antonio. Scott Clemmensen is ready to go and Mikael Samuelsson is almost ready. Forward Mark Cullen was recalled to replace Michal Repik in the lineup until Samuelsson is ready to go. Early indications are that Erik Gudbranson will play and Keaton Ellerby will sit tonight. Jose Theodore will start in net.
Injuries
- F Mikael Samuelsson (rehab from abdominal surgery), 10/24, day to day
- F Scottie Upshall (hip), 11/10, 6 to 8 weeks
- F Matt Bradley (undisclosed), 11/16, 1 week
- F Marcel Goc (undisclosed head injury), 11/16, day to day
Healthy Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby/
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Sturm-Santorelli-Kopecky
- Bergenheim-Matthias-Skille
- Kennedy-Cullen-Dadonov
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski-Gudbranson
- Kulikov-Weaver