RALEIGH — Hurricanes goalie Spencer Martin will have to take solace in the old Meatloaf song following Friday’s visit from the Florida Panthers.
Two out of three ain’t bad.
Martin struggled in the first period, allowing two long-range shots to beat him, and then gave up another goal from distance with the game tied in the third period to erase Carolina’s comeback in a 6-3 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
“In this case, I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be tonight,” said Martin, who stopped 24 of 29 shots, the fourth time in six starts this season he’s allowed at least four goals.
The Hurricanes will face the Panthers again Saturday afternoon in Florida for the back end of an old-school home-and-home. Carolina may go back to Martin with current backup Yaniv Perets untested and Pyotr Kochetkov listed as doubtful by coach Rod Brind’Amour after the game.
“So the best feeling is to get out there and play again,” Martin added. “Whether I’m playing or not, I’m not sure, but I’ll be ready to go.”
Martin had come into the game with back-to-back wins over the Stars and Rangers, though the Hurricanes had to rally from multigoal deficits in both before earning wins.
Carolina had to do the same against the Panthers after Martin’s shaky start.
Florida struck three times in the first 10:15 of the game, and while the second goal — Sam Reinhart’s league-leading 18th of the season after a Brent Burns turnover — could be forgiven, the first and third goals, on a Jesper Boqvist backhand and long-range shot by Carter Verhaeghe, put Carolina in a deep hole.
“That was some tough goals I’m sure he’d like to have back,” Brind’Amour said. “You just can’t give that team goals — any team in this league, but not that one.”
Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky (26 saves) had struggles of his own, which helped the Hurricanes get the game even in the second period.
Carolina cut the lead to one at 6:24 of the second period when Sean Walker’s long-range point shot beat the Panthers goalie and went post and in to make it 3-2.
Then, with 2:42 left in the middle frame, Hurricanes winger Eric Robinson redirected a Jalen Chatfield point shot to tie the game 3-3.
“We’ve come back in the last few games and everyone gets all excited about it,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said, “but it isn’t a recipe for success.”
It wasn’t Friday.
At 4:58 of the third, A.J. Green’s 45-foot wrist shot beat Martin to the stick side to give Florida the lead for good.
“I don’t blame Spencer for this game,” Brind’Amour said. “We didn’t come with what we needed to beat that team.”
The Hurricanes’ power play was also flat most of the night, getting a goal from Seth Jarvis — his third in as many games since returning to the lineup from injury — at 5:42 of the first but going 0 for 4 the rest of way, including allowing a back-breaking shorthanded goal at 9:08 of the third when Carolina still trailed by one.
After Carolina turned the puck over in the offensive zone, former Hurricanes draft pick Eetu Luostarinen carried the puck up the right wing on a 2-on-1. His shot hit Martin’s pad, but the rebound kicked directly to Anton Lundell for his eighth goal of the year just before the midway point of the third.
The Hurricanes couldn’t muster another two-goal comeback, and Sam Bennett scored an empty-net goal with seven seconds remaining to hand Carolina its first home loss since the season opener on Oct. 11.
The chance at redemption will be quick, though Brind’Amour was noncommittal about who would start in goal Saturday in Sunrise. Kochetkov, who appeared to be knocked unconscious in overtime of Carolina’s loss in Columbus last Saturday, is inching toward a return.
“I think he’s right there, but I’m going to say doubtful for tomorrow,” Brind’Amour said after Friday’s loss. “I think he needs a practice. We haven’t really practiced, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense. We’d love to have him, but it doesn’t make sense.”
Brind’Amour, however, wasn’t ready to say Martin would start again should Kochetkov be unable to make the start.
“We don’t know for sure yet,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re going to have to get the final word. But if that’s what we have to do, that’s what we have to do.”
Staal wasn’t concerned about Martin shaking off Friday’s performance should he again get the call.
“I’m sure he’ll rebound,” he said, “just like everyone else has to in this room.”
Notes: Walker’s goal was his 100th NHL point. … Martin Necas was held without a point, ending his streak at four games. … Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists and has five points in the past three games. … Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad had two assists in his 700th career game.
