The banner goes up, then the work begins

[Forth Line Goon]

Article Hook

The banner goes up in Raleigh, but the celebration won’t last long. Florida is waiting at center ice, and Carolina’s title defense begins with a test worthy of a champion.

Carolina gets one more moment with the Stanley Cup on Tuesday. The Hurricanes will raise their championship banner at Lenovo Center before hosting Florida at 5 p.m. ET. Then Rod Brind’Amour’s team faces an opponent that won the previous two Cups and arrives with Barkov back and Brady Tkachuk in its lineup. It is a demanding first night for a title defense.

The Hurricanes bring back much of the group that finished the job in June, but their opening lineup has meaningful changes. Seth Jarvis remains out while recovering from shoulder surgery, leaving Eric Robinson projected alongside Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Charles Alexis Legault gets the spot beside Shayne Gostisbehere, and Brandon Bussi is set to start against the club that lost him on waivers last October. Bussi went 31-6-2 in his first full NHL season and closed Carolina’s championship run with a shutout in Game 6 of the Final.

Carolina went 3-1 in its short preseason and finished with a 6-0 win in Nashville. Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake each recorded four points across their two exhibition appearances. Their line offers continuity on a night when the building’s emotions and Florida’s physical game could make a clean start difficult.

Projected lines​

Forwards

Eric Robinson – Sebastian Aho – Andrei Svechnikov
Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook
William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nicolas Deslauriers

Defense

Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Charles Alexis Legault

Starting goalie: Brandon Bussi.

What to watch​

Robinson’s move to the Aho line is the immediate tactical question: can he supply the forechecking and support that let Aho and Svechnikov spend shifts in Florida’s end while Jarvis is out? On defense, Legault’s pairing with Gostisbehere will face a much sharper test than the preseason provided. And once the banner ceremony ends, watch Carolina’s first few shifts. The Hurricanes have to get from celebration to their usual pace quickly against a Panthers club eager to spoil the occasion.

What’s next​

Carolina stays home to face the Washington Capitals on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. ET.