BREAKING NEWS: Sam Bennett will not be playing for the Florida Panthers tonight against the Hurricanes.

Tonight, when the Florida Panthers face off against the Carolina Hurricanes, Evan Rodrigues will once again be absent from the lineup due to an injury sustained while blocking a shot in a previous game against the Calgary Flames. Additionally, second-line center Sam Bennett will also be sidelined for precautionary reasons after blocking a shot in the recent match against the Dallas Stars.

Coach Paul Maurice indicated that both players are being held out as a precautionary measure. Returning to the lineup is Jonah Gadjovich, who last played in the win against New Jersey on March 4. Anton Lundell will take over center duties on the second line, while Eetu Luostarinen will center the third line. Maurice mentioned that the status of Rodrigues and Bennett will be re-evaluated ahead of the game against Tampa.

The Panthers enter the game with strong momentum, having won their last two matches and 18 of their past 21 games. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Panthers in their previous encounter on February 22. Carolina has since added Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov before the trade deadline.

Reflecting on their previous matchup, Maurice acknowledged the outstanding performance of both teams’ goaltenders and emphasized the need to carry forward the positive aspects of their game. Sergei Bobrovsky will start in goal for the Panthers, while Frederik Andersen will guard the net for the Hurricanes.