Games that count will start September 29 when the Carolina Hurricanes begin their 2026-27 season against the Florida Panthers at home. Tuesday the Canes had a small preview of that matchup as they took the ice at Lenovo Center for the first time since June.
The changes to the seating bowl at Lenovo Center were obvious. So were the changes to the lineup on the ice with the Canes sitting most of their star players and playing a good amount of their prospects.
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Brandon Bussi started in goal for the Canes, while forward Mark Jankowski was the top line center playing with forward Nicolas Deslauriers and defenseman Mike Reilly. Those were the players who suited up for the Canes that played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Panthers played many of their top players like Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaghe, Sam Bennett and more.
Fireworks rang out on the ice at the 17:28 mark of the first period. Canes defenseman Bryce Montgomery and Panthers forward Bokondji Imama dropped gloves and started fighting. Fans at Lenovo Center started roaring for the first fight of the season, where Imama had the upper hand. Both received 5:00 penalties.
Not long after at the 15:29 mark of the first period, Brady Tkachuk ripped a shot just inside the left circle scored, making it 1-0. The goal was assisted by Aleksander Barkov and Cole Reinhart.
Didn't take long for the Cane promising young players to answer. Mike Reilly ripped a shot on Jakob Markstrom and Bradley Nadeau was there to clean it up for his second goal of the preseason tying the game at 1 apiece.
Florida answered 18 seconds later to retake the lead 2-1 when Barkov cashed in on a two-on-one break.
The Panthers experience was obvious against the Canes young prospects, often leaving Bussi on an island. Bussi finished the period with seven saves after facing nine shots. The Canes finished the period with four shots on goal.
Bussi came out in the second period to give way to Cayden Primeau in goal. The Canes young corps looked much more aggressive and played tighter defense against Panthers, leading to more offensive chances. The Canes outshot the Panthers 11 to 9 in the second period.
At 8:33, offense cashed in. Justin Robidas ripped a shot from the top of the right circle that snuck in over the left shoulder of Akira Schmid. That tied the game at 2 apiece.
Primeau showed his great vision coming in for Bussi, including a pair of spectacular saves in the third period as the Panthers were on the Power Play. He finished with 20 saves on the night.