January 16 Lineup Preview: Team Faces Florida Challenge
As the Carolina Hurricanes prepare for their matchup against the Florida Panthers, they face challenges with player availability. Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour announced that William Carrier will miss his third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. Although Carrier returned to practice recently, he is not ready to compete tonight.
In the defense lineup, Shayne Gostisbehere is also out, having experienced discomfort earlier this week. This opens the door for Mike Reilly to continue playing after he filled in for Jaccob Slavin on Tuesday. Slavin, who has been sidelined, is expected to return, as Brind’Amour noted his optimism for Slavin’s participation in both tonight’s game against Florida and tomorrow’s match in New Jersey.
Projected Lineup for January 16
In goal, Brandon Bussi is set to make his 21st NHL start. After coming off a challenging game in St. Louis, he aims to deliver a stronger performance. Bussi previously recorded a career-high 38 saves against the Panthers in December.
Injuries and Player Updates
- William Carrier: Lower-body injury, resumed skating on January 15.
- Shayne Gostisbehere: Undisclosed injury, out for tonight.
- Pyotr Kochetkov: Recovering from hip surgery, likely out for the season.
- Charles Alexis Legault: Hand injury, out for 3-4 months from November 11.
- Noah Philp: In concussion protocol, no return timetable.
Tonight’s Projected Lines
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Forwards | Svechnikov – Aho – Ehlers | Hall – Stankoven – Blake | Martinook – Staal – Jarvis | Robinson – Jankowski – Kotkaniemi |
| Defense | Slavin – Chatfield | Miller – Walker | Reilly – Nikishin |
| Starting Goaltender | Bussi |
This game marks a critical point for the Hurricanes as they face the challenge posed by the Florida Panthers. With a blend of injuries and sidelined players, the team’s depth and resilience will be tested on January 16.
