The Florida Panthers (19-14-2) travel to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes (22-10-3) in an Eastern Conference matchup between two teams trending in opposite directions. The Panthers have surged with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, driven by strong offensive output and timely scoring, while the Hurricanes have gone 6-3-1 but are dealing with recent injuries that could impact their depth. This is the second meeting of the season; the Panthers won the first 4-3 in a shootout. Carolina’s elite home defense (11-5-1 record) faces Florida’s road resilience (7-7-0), setting up a potential low-scoring battle where special teams and goaltending will be decisive—Carolina ranks high in goals allowed, while Florida excels in close games (8-0-1 in one-goal decisions).
Venue Location
Lenovo Center (formerly PNC Arena), Raleigh, NC. This 18,700-seat arena has been a stronghold for the Hurricanes, where they’ve posted an 11-5-1 record and allowed just 2.7 goals per game.
Puckdrop is set for 7:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast regionally on FDSNSO (Hurricanes feed) and SCRIPPS (Panthers feed), with national streaming on ESPN+.
Injury Report
Carolina is relatively healthy with no players listed on the injury report as of December 22, giving them a full lineup advantage. Florida’s report is not explicitly detailed in recent updates, but the team has navigated minor issues throughout the season without major absences impacting recent play.
Florida Panthers:
Out/Questionable: No major injuries reported; the team appears fully healthy heading into this matchup.
Carolina Hurricanes:
Out/Questionable: None listed.
Carolina’s clean bill of health provides depth and consistency, while Florida relies on momentum from their hot streak.
Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles between high-scoring forwards and defensive anchors, with Carolina’s structure potentially clashing against Florida’s opportunistic attack.
Sebastian Aho (CAR) vs. Sam Reinhart (FLA): Aho (13 goals, 18 assists) leads Carolina’s balanced offense, facing Reinhart’s scoring touch (part of Florida’s top contributors). Aho’s playmaking tests Florida’s middling penalty kill, while Reinhart exploits any Carolina lapses.
Andrei Svechnikov (CAR) vs. Panthers Defense: Svechnikov (recent hot streak with assists) brings physicality and skill, challenging Florida’s blue line in transition.
Carter Verhaeghe/Brad Marchand Line (FLA) vs. Hurricanes Top Pair: Florida’s surging top line (combined high points recently) could pressure Carolina’s defense if they control puck possession.
Other Key Battles: Goaltending duel likely between Pyotr Kochetkov/Frederik Andersen (CAR) and Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA)—both capable of stealing games in low-scoring affairs.
Carolina’s depth and home structure give them an edge in sustained pressure.
Recent Team Forms
Florida is heating up, while Carolina remains consistent but vulnerable to close games.
Florida Panthers (Last 10 Games):
Form: 7-2-1, averaging 3.5 GPG while allowing 3.0. Strong penalty minutes but efficient scoring in wins.
Carolina Hurricanes (Last 10 Games):
Form: 6-3-1, averaging 3.0 GPG while allowing 2.7. Solid defensively but occasional multi-goal concessions.
Series History
Carolina holds a historical advantage, but recent playoff matchups favor Florida (Panthers eliminated Hurricanes in recent conference finals). The Panthers won the season’s first meeting 4-3 in a shootout. Overall, Carolina leads regular-season series, with games often competitive and mid-scoring.
Betting Trends
Hurricanes strong as favorites (21-10 in such games); Panthers effective as underdogs (6 upset wins). Unders common in Carolina home games.
Game Odds
Florida Panthers 5.5
Carolina Hurricanes – 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 22, 2025
