Panthers Rally Late to Defeat Hurricanes in Shootout

In a thrilling comeback, the Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout on December 19, 2025. Down 3-0 with less than ten minutes remaining, the Panthers rallied with three goals in the final minutes.

Brad Marchand scored his 20th goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 3-1, followed by Sam Bennett's goal to make it 3-2. With only 52 seconds left, Sam Reinhart tied the game at 3-3. In the shootout, Evan Rodrigues scored the decisive goal, while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped three of four attempts.

The Panthers' victory showcased their resilience, improving their record to 7-1-0 in their last eight games. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Hurricanes, who had strong performances from Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal, but failed to execute in the closing moments.

Goalie Brandon Bussi, who made 38 saves, had his nine-game win streak snapped, tying him with Cam Ward for the longest win streak by a Carolina goalie. The Panthers' comeback highlights their playoff potential, while raising concerns about the Hurricanes' late-game execution.