Hurricanes @ Panthers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Carolina Hurricanes (31-10-5)

@ Florida Panthers (30-13-5)

Starting Goalies:

Alex Nedeljkovic(CAR): Confirmed

Chris Driedger (FLA): Confirmed

Current odds:

Carolina Hurricanes: (-115)

Florida Panthers: (-105)

• The Carolina Hurricanes can put a bow on their season series against the host Florida Panthers when the top teams in the Central meet again on Saturday. Following a 4-2 victory at Florida on Thursday night, the first-place Hurricanes are now 6-0-1 against the second-place Panthers this season. Florida had nine power play chances yet only scored once against goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, and that was when it had a two-man advantage.

• Carolina had a 3-1 lead on a short-handed goal from Sebastian Aho near the end of the second period, but Florida center Aleksander Barkov cut it to a one-goal game on one of the Panthers’ five power play chances in the third. Aho put the game away with another short-handed goal into an empty net the closing seconds.

• By defeating the Panthers, Carolina (31-10-5, 67 points) took sole possession of first place in the Central Division and leads Florida (30-13-5, 65 points) by two points heading into their final regular-season meeting. The two could meet again in either the first or second round of the playoffs.

• Nedeljkovic or Petr Mrazek could start for the Hurricanes on Saturday night. Nedeljkovic is now 3-0-1 against the Panthers; Mrazek has only faced them once this season.

• Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville said that goalie Chris Driedger was dealing with a minor lower body issue and would be out for a few days. If the Panthers opt not to play Bobrovsky, the start would go to 20-year-old rookie Spencer Knight who was victorious in his NHL debut Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

• Florida has struggled on the power play against Carolina this season. The Panthers won the first game of the season against Carolina on a Jonathan Huberdeau goal in overtime but has dropped the past six. Carolina’s penalty kill has been a big reason why. The Panthers have now converted just 3-of-31 power-play chances against the Hurricanes.

• Carolina, meanwhile, has cashed in on 9-of-25 power-play chances. Aho has three short-handed goals against the Panthers for good measure.

• Carolina could be without forward Jordan Martinook who left the game Thursday after being hit by Florida defenseman Radko Gudas. Martinook did not return.

• Florida is expected to be without Driedger, Noel Acciari and Carter Verhaeghe. Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar returned Thursday after missing the previous two games.