Canes Unleash Offensive Avalanche in 9-1 Rout of Panthers
If the Carolina Hurricanes were looking for a statement win, they just delivered it in bold, underlined, and all caps. After blowing multi-goal leads in their first two matchups against the Florida Panthers this season, the Canes saved their best for last in the third and final meeting-and it wasn’t close. Carolina exploded for nine goals in a dominant 9-1 win at the Lenovo Center, snapping a two-game skid and reminding the league exactly what this team is capable of when it finds its rhythm.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a win. This was a full-scale dismantling.
Hurricanes Flip the Script
Coming off a shutout loss to the Blues, Carolina entered this one banged up and looking to reset. William Carrier and Shayne Gostisbehere were both sidelined with injuries, and Brandon Bussi got the start in net after taking the loss in St.
Louis. Florida was also missing key names-Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Seth Jones all out-but the Panthers still had enough firepower to pose a threat.
For a few early minutes, it looked like Florida might get the jump. But once Carolina settled in, they took over the first period with speed, pressure, and purpose.
The Jordan Staal line set the tone, generating high-danger chances and eventually cashing in. Staal won a board battle and fed Nikolaj Ehlers in the slot, who buried it for the 1-0 lead.
The Panthers answered early in the second on a laser from Uvis Balinskis, but Carolina didn’t flinch. Mark Jankowski won a faceoff, crashed the net, and was in perfect position to tap home a rebound.
Then, on a late-period power play, Alexander Nikishin hammered a shot through traffic that Sergei Bobrovsky never saw. Just like that, it was 3-1 after two-and the floodgates were about to open.
A Third Period to Remember
The third period was pure chaos, and Carolina thrived in it. The Hurricanes made the penalty box feel like a revolving door, but they owned the special teams battle.
Andrei Svechnikov got the party started with his 400th career point, scoring on the power play. Then came a rapid-fire sequence: Ehlers and Taylor Hall scored 21 seconds apart-one on a 5-on-3, the other on a 5-on-4-and the rout was officially on.
But they weren’t done.
Ehlers completed his sixth career hat trick with a one-timer that pushed the score to 7-1. Hall added his second of the night, and just 12 seconds later, Eric Robinson joined the scoring spree. That made it 9-1, with eight unanswered goals after Florida had tied it early in the second.
This was a team that had something to prove-and they did it emphatically.
Numbers That Tell the Story
Let’s talk about the stat sheet, because it’s as wild as the scoreline. All 12 Hurricanes forwards recorded at least one point.
Eight of them had multi-point nights. Ehlers led the way with four points, including the hat trick.
Jankowski had three. Nikishin, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Taylor Hall, Svechnikov, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven all chipped in with two each.
The Canes doubled Florida’s shot total and scored on four of their five power plays. Meanwhile, their penalty kill went a perfect 5-for-5, including a crucial stretch in the third when the game could’ve gotten messy. Jaccob Slavin was a rock on the back end, stepping up at the blue line and making life miserable for the Panthers’ power play.
Bussi Holds It Down
It’s easy to overlook the goalie when your team puts up nine goals, but Brandon Bussi quietly played a key role in this win. After Florida tied it 1-1, Bussi came up with a massive save on Carter Verhaeghe that could’ve flipped the game.
Instead, the Canes kept the game level and took control from there. Bussi stopped 15 of 16 shots, picking up his 17th win of the season.
A Win That Carries Weight
Sure, Florida was missing some big names-but that doesn’t take away from what Carolina just did. This wasn’t just about beating a depleted roster.
This was about sending a message, both to themselves and the rest of the league. The Hurricanes played fast, physical, and disciplined.
They didn’t get baited into post-whistle antics, even when the Panthers tried to stir the pot. They stuck to their game, and they buried a team that’s typically known for doing the same to others.
This was a group that needed to get right-and they did it in dominant fashion.
What’s Next
The Hurricanes don’t have much time to rest. They’re back on the ice tomorrow night in New Jersey for a matchup against a Devils team also fighting to stay in the playoff picture.
After that, they’ll return home for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day showdown with the red-hot Buffalo Sabres, followed by a Thursday night tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks.
If tonight was any indication, the Canes might just be heating up at the right time.