The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday without forward Jordan Martinook. Martinook left Wednesday’s game in Nashville with a lower-body injury and has not returned to skating. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour described his status as “day-to-day” and did not provide additional details.
With Martinook out, Eric Robinson is expected to join Jordan Staal, while Jesperi Kotkaniemi returns to play alongside Mark Jankowski and Taylor Hall. Goaltender Brandon Bussi took practice in the starter’s crease and is likely to pursue a franchise-record 10th consecutive win tonight. Bussi, 27, rested during Wednesday’s game but has started six of the last ten games for Carolina.
The projected lineup includes forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, Blake Carrier, Staal, Robinson, Hall, Jankowski, and Kotkaniemi. Defense pairings are K’Andre Miller with Sean Walker; Shayne Gostisbehere with Jalen Chatfield; and Jaccob Slavin with Nikita Nikishin. Bussi is listed as the starting goaltender.
Players sidelined due to injury include Charles Alexis Legault (hand) and Martinook (lower body). Mike Reilly is a healthy scratch.
The Hurricanes’ power play units will feature Aho, Jarvis, Staal (Blake), Svechnikov with Gostisbehere on the first unit; and Blake, Ehlers, Hall and Stankoven with Nikishin on the second.
The Hurricanes are recognized for their contributions both on and off the ice. The team operates from Raleigh at the Lenovo Center—an arena that accommodates up to 20,000 people and hosts over 150 events each year according to its official website. The organization contributes more than $200 million annually to the local economy through various events and community involvement according to venue information. The Hurricanes have also achieved significant milestones such as winning their first Stanley Cup in 2006 as noted by their official site.
Puck drop against Florida is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
