The Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-2) face off against the Florida Panthers (18-13-2) in an intriguing Atlantic Division matchup. This game pits two strong Eastern Conference contenders against each other, with the Hurricanes riding a hot streak and the Panthers looking to build momentum at home. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of all key aspects for this contest.
Venue Location
The game will take place at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
This 19,250-capacity venue has been the Panthers’ home since 1998 and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, especially during high-stakes games.
Puckdrop: 7:00 p.m. ET.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and available for live streaming on platforms like Fubo.
Team Records
Carolina Hurricanes: 22-9-2 (46 points, 2nd in Metropolitan Division)
Florida Panthers: 18-13-2 (38 points, 4th in Atlantic Division)
These records reflect strong starts for both teams, with Carolina boasting one of the league’s best defensive units and Florida relying on offensive firepower despite some inconsistencies.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams have shown solid play in their recent outings, but Carolina enters with more consistency.
Carolina Hurricanes Last 10 Games: The Hurricanes are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, outscoring opponents 38-22.
They’ve won their last three, including a dominant 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on December 17, where they showcased strong goaltending and balanced scoring.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Key Notes |
| Dec 17 | vs. Nashville Predators | W | 4-1 | Strong defensive effort; multiple goal scorers |
| Dec 14 | at Ottawa Senators | W | 3-2 | Overtime thriller |
| Dec 12 | vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | W | 5-3 | Power play efficiency |
| Dec 10 | at New York Islanders | L | 2-4 | Rare defensive lapse |
| Dec 7 | vs. Seattle Kraken | W | 4-1 | Shutout performance in third period |
| Dec 6 | at Montreal Canadiens | W | 3-1 | Road win with solid checking |
| Dec 4 | vs. Philadelphia Flyers | L (OT) | 2-3 | Close game, point earned |
| Nov 30 | at Tampa Bay Lightning | W | 4-2 | Balanced attack |
| Nov 28 | vs. Boston Bruins | W | 5-2 | High-scoring home win |
| Nov 25 | at Vegas Golden Knights | W | 3-0 | Shutout victory |
Florida Panthers Last 10 Games: The Panthers are 6-3-1 in their last 10, with a goal differential of +5 (32-27).
They’ve won three of their last four, including a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on December 17.
However, road struggles have been evident, with losses in Colorado and Dallas recently.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Key Notes |
| Dec 17 | vs. Los Angeles Kings | W | 3-2 | Late-game heroics |
| Dec 15 | at Tampa Bay Lightning | L | 2-4 | Defensive breakdowns |
| Dec 13 | at Dallas Stars | W | 4-0 | Shutout; strong forecheck |
| Dec 11 | at Colorado Avalanche | L | 2-6 | Overmatched on the road |
| Dec 10 | at Utah Mammoth | W | 4-3 | Anton Lundell game-winner with 52 seconds left nhl.com |
| Dec 7 | vs. New York Islanders | W | 4-1 | Home dominance |
| Dec 6 | vs. Vancouver Canucks | W | 5-3 | Offensive explosion |
| Dec 4 | at Philadelphia Flyers | L (OT) | 3-4 | Earned a point in tight contest |
| Nov 30 | vs. Toronto Maple Leafs | W | 3-1 | Solid goaltending |
| Nov 28 | at Boston Bruins | L | 1-3 | Struggled to generate shots |
Injury Report
Injuries could play a significant role, particularly for the Panthers, who are missing key offensive pieces.
Carolina Hurricanes:
Charles-Alexis Legault (D): Out (Cut/Injured Reserve).
covers.com +1
Jordan Martinook (LW): Day-to-Day (Undisclosed).
Florida Panthers:
Aleksander Barkov Jr. (C): Out (Knee).
Barkov has yet to play this season, a massive blow to Florida’s center depth.
Evan Rodrigues (C): Day-to-Day (Undisclosed).
Matthew Tkachuk (LW): Injured Reserve (Non-Roster, expected return Dec 30).
Tkachuk’s absence hurts Florida’s scoring and physical presence.
Cole Schwindt (F): Injured Reserve (Undisclosed).
These absences weaken Florida’s top lines, potentially giving Carolina an edge in depth.
Player Matchups
This game features compelling individual battles, especially in the forward groups and goaltending.
Sebastian Aho (CAR) vs. Sam Reinhart (FLA): Aho (15G, 25A) leads Carolina’s offense with his speed and playmaking, while Reinhart (18G, 20A) has been Florida’s top scorer without Barkov. Expect this matchup to dictate scoring chances.
Andrei Svechnikov (CAR) vs. Carter Verhaeghe (FLA): Svechnikov’s physicality (12G, 18A) could clash with Verhaeghe’s quick release (14G, 16A). Both are power-play threats.
Defense: Jaccob Slavin (CAR) vs. Anton Lundell (FLA): Slavin’s shutdown ability will aim to neutralize Lundell, who has stepped up (10G, 15A) in Barkov’s absence.
Goaltending: Frederik Andersen (CAR) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA): Andersen (2.15 GAA, .920 SV%) has been stellar, while Bobrovsky (2.45 GAA, .910 SV%) remains a veteran presence but has shown vulnerability lately. Carolina’s edge here could be decisive.
Carolina’s balanced attack (3.4 GPG) faces Florida’s potent but injury-hit offense (3.2 GPG), with defenses ranked highly (CAR: 2.5 GAPG, FLA: 3.1 GAPG).
Series History
The Hurricanes and Panthers have a competitive history, with 153 total meetings (regular season and playoffs).
Florida holds a slight overall edge, but Carolina has won 49 of 81 road games against them.
In the last 10 matchups, Florida leads 6-4-0, with a +13 goal differential for the Panthers.
Notably, Florida swept Carolina in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals en route to the Stanley Cup Final, but Carolina won their most recent regular-season series 2-1 in 2024-25. Games between these teams average 5.8 goals, often going over the total.
Betting Trends
Betting interest is high, with Carolina favored due to form and injuries.
Hurricanes are 8-2 in their last 10 games, 7-3 ATS.
Panthers are 1-4 in their last 5 games, 1-4 ATS; 5-9 ATS on the road but stronger at home (8-5 ATS).
The over has hit in 6 of Carolina’s last 10 road games and 7 of Florida’s last 10 home games.
In head-to-head, the home team has won 7 of the last 10 meetings.
Game Odds
Carolina Hurricanes – 135
Florida Panthers 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, December 18, 2025
