That was brutal. Honestly, there’s no other way to put it. If you were looking for the Florida Panthers game score today hoping for a tight divisional battle, you got a nightmare instead. The final was 9-1. Yes, nine to one. The Carolina Hurricanes didn't just win; they essentially threw a party in the Panthers' defensive zone and forgot to invite the goalie.
It’s the kind of game that makes a coach want to burn the game tape and bury the ashes.
Florida came into Raleigh on a modest two-game winning streak. They had some momentum. They had Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes, a man who usually acts like a brick wall with a catch glove. But by the time the third period rolled around, that wall looked more like a beaded curtain. Carolina poured in six goals in the final frame alone.
Six.
In twenty minutes.
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The Disaster in Raleigh: Breaking Down the Score
So, how does a professional hockey team give up nine goals? It started out deceptively normal. Nikolaj Ehlers, who has been a monster for the Canes since signing this past offseason, opened the scoring late in the first. No big deal, right? 1-0 at the break is just a typical Friday night in the NHL.
Then Uvis Balinskis tied it up for Florida early in the second. For a brief moment, it looked like we were in for a grind.
Then the wheels didn't just come off; they disintegrated.
Mark Jankowski and Alexander Nikishin (on the power play) made it 3-1 before the second intermission. Still, 3-1 is manageable. You can come back from that. But the third period was a shooting gallery. Ehlers finished his hat trick—his first in a Hurricanes sweater—and the floodgates just stayed open. Taylor Hall added two, Andrei Svechnikov got in on the action, and Eric Robinson capped off the misery.
Why Today's Panthers Game Score Matters So Much
This isn't just one bad night. When you look at the score panthers game today, you have to look at the context of the Eastern Conference standings in early 2026. Florida is currently sitting at 24-18-3. They aren't in "panic mode" yet, but they are far from the dominant force that took home the Cup in 2024.
The biggest concern? Special teams.
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Carolina went 4-for-5 on the power play tonight. You cannot win in this league—especially not against a Rod Brind'Amour coached team—if you’re spending half the night in the penalty box. Florida looked slow. They looked frustrated. Brad Marchand, who has been a spark plug for this team since joining, was largely neutralized.
- The Goaltending Question: Bobrovsky stayed in for all nine goals. That’s a bold (or cruel) choice by Paul Maurice. He finished with 26 saves on 35 shots. That’s a .743 save percentage.
- The Silver Lining: If there is one, it’s Balinskis. He’s been a steady presence on the blue line, and his goal tonight was a rare highlight in a sea of lowlights.
- The Discipline Issue: Florida took too many "lazy" penalties. Hooks, holds, things that happen when you're tired or out of position.
Misconceptions About the Panthers' Current Slump
People are going to see this 9-1 score and assume the season is over. It’s not. It’s January. But there is a narrative building that this roster is "too old." With veterans like Marchand and Bobrovsky leading the way, the legs do look a bit heavy on the second half of back-to-backs.
However, let’s give credit where it’s due. The Hurricanes are arguably the best team in the league right now. Brandon Bussi, their goalie, only had to make 16 saves tonight. That tells you everything. Florida couldn't even get the puck out of their own zone, let alone test the opposing netminder.
What About the Other Panthers?
It's worth a quick mention since many fans check for "Panthers" scores and end up looking at the wrong sport. If you were looking for the Carolina Panthers (NFL) score, their season ended just a few days ago.
They lost a heartbreaker in the Wild Card round to the Los Angeles Rams, 34-31. It was a hell of a game—Matthew Stafford threw for nearly 500 yards, and Davante Adams had a massive day for the Rams despite a scary collision. So, if you’re a fan of the Charlotte-based Panthers, your "score today" is technically 0-0 because you're officially in the offseason.
Next Steps for the Florida Panthers
There is no time to mope. The Panthers have to fly to D.C. immediately. They play the Washington Capitals tomorrow night.
If they want to wash the taste of this 9-1 blowout out of their mouths, they need to do three things immediately. First, they have to fix the penalty kill. You can't give up four power-play goals and expect to be in the game. Second, they need to see if Anthony Stolarz or whichever backup is dressed can give Bobrovsky a night off to clear his head.
Finally, they need their stars—Verhaeghe, Bennett, and Tkachuk—to actually lead. They were ghosts tonight.
To stay on top of the turnaround, watch the line combinations in tomorrow's morning skate. Maurice is famous for "blending" his lines after a loss like this. If we see Sam Bennett moving around the top six, it’s a sign that the coaching staff is searching for a spark that just wasn't there in Raleigh. Keep an eye on the injury report too; sometimes a 9-1 score hides a lingering "lower-body injury" that we haven't heard about yet.