Panthers bring the real lineup to Raleigh for the rematch
Both Tkachuks, Barkov, six NHL defensemen and Markstrom travel; Imama and Schmid draw in against a Canes group built on kids.
The Panthers aren't treating tonight's rematch in Raleigh like a split-squad exhibition. Per The Hockey News' David Dwork, Florida is bringing a near-NHL lineup to Lenovo Center: both Tkachuks, Barkov, Reinhart, Verhaeghe, Bennett, Luostarinen and Lundell up front, with Vilmanis, Reinhardt, Schwindt and Boko Imama rounding out the 12.
The six on the back end are Forsling, Ekblad, Mikkola, Jones, Kulikov and Gudas. Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid are the goalies. Imama draws in for Jack Devine and Schmid replaces Cooper Black from Sunday's group. Maurice told Dwork the goal is game reps for returning players and special-teams time, which a split roster makes hard.
Carolina is going the other way. Per the Hurricanes' own preview, Rod Brind'Amour is dressing a youth-heavy group with the CBA-minimum eight veterans, P.O. Joseph making his Canes debut and Bussi and Primeau splitting the net. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET.
Ferda read: most of the opening-night group against kids trying to make the Hurricanes. If the power play looks slick again, remember who was killing it. The one real job tonight is Imama's: show Maurice the forecheck is heavy enough to keep a fourth-line seat warm.
