RALEIGH, N.C. - The Florida Panthers dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Tuesday in what was the final preseason appearance for the team’s top players, with Brady Tkachuk’s early exit drawing the most attention.
Tkachuk, who opened the scoring at 4:31 of the first period with his third goal of the preseason - a one-timer off a feed from Sam Reinhart - did not return for the third period. Head coach Paul Maurice said the absence was not injury-related. “It’s not an injury, just tightened up on him. [It was an] exhibition,” Maurice said, adding that Tkachuk could practice in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday afternoon.
The Panthers led twice in the first period. Sasha Barkov extended the lead to 2-1 at 7:15 of the first, driving in on a breakaway and beating Brandon Bussi with a wrist shot. Carolina’s Justin Robidas tied it for the second time at 11:25 of the second period, scoring from the right side on backup Akira Schmid after a Florida turnover. Carolina went 2-3 in the shootout round to claim the win.
Maurice offered a measured assessment of where the team stands, according to Florida Hockey Now. “We got the first block of training camp done for these guys,” the head coach said.
Under new NHL rules, veteran players are prohibited from appearing in more than two preseason games, meaning Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Reinhart will not suit up again until the regular season. The Panthers have two preseason games remaining - Thursday at the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26 at home against the Lightning at 6 p.m. - but those contests will feature younger roster hopefuls.
The next time Florida’s core lineup takes the ice will be the 2026-27 NHL season opener on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. on ESPN, back in Raleigh, where the Hurricanes will raise their second Stanley Cup championship banner. The Panthers’ home opener follows Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. on Scripps against the Minnesota Wild.