Carolina Hurricanes host St. Louis Blues seeking to avoid season sweep in Raleigh matchup Thursday night
Raleigh rematch closes season series
The St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes meet Thursday night, March 12, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh in the clubs’ second and final regular-season matchup of the 2025-26 season. The Blues won the first meeting 3-0 on Jan. 13 in St. Louis, when goaltender Joel Hofer recorded a 33-save shutout.
Thursday’s game gives Carolina an opportunity to prevent a two-game season sweep by St. Louis. It also comes during a demanding late-season stretch for both teams, when points carry added weight in playoff races and roster decisions.
What the first game revealed
The Jan. 13 shutout underscored how narrow the margins can be against Carolina’s structure. St. Louis scored three times while limiting the Hurricanes on the scoreboard, with Hofer’s performance anchoring the result. For Carolina, the loss was a reminder that shot volume and territorial play do not automatically translate to goals when finishing chances and special-teams execution falter.
Carolina’s recent form at home
Carolina enters the rematch with one of the league’s stronger home profiles this season, including a prolonged run of games earning points on home ice. The Hurricanes have also shown an ability to generate offense even when conceding chances, as reflected in a recent 5-4 shootout win against Pittsburgh that extended their home-ice points streak.
The Hurricanes’ lineup has also seen movement tied to player availability and development. Defenseman Theo Lindstein made his NHL debut Tuesday, adding a new element to a blue line that has leaned heavily on puck movement and speed in transition.
Where the Blues stand as the trip continues
St. Louis arrives in Raleigh continuing an East Coast swing and navigating roster changes that have altered the team’s look down the stretch. Among the most significant moves: defenseman Justin Faulk was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on March 6. Faulk spent seven seasons with St. Louis after arriving via trade from Carolina in September 2019, giving the matchup an added layer of recent organizational history.
The Blues have also made contract decisions impacting forward depth. Mathieu Joseph was placed on waivers March 5 with the intent to terminate his contract; after clearing waivers, he became a free agent the next day.
Key angles to watch
Goaltending: St. Louis’ ability to replicate the clean defensive outcome from Jan. 13 will likely hinge on netminding and rebound control.
Special teams: The first meeting included a short-handed opening goal for St. Louis, a rare swing that can decide a low-event game.
Roster adaptation: Both clubs are integrating changes—Carolina with new contributors, St. Louis with reshaped blue-line responsibilities after the Faulk trade.
Thursday’s rematch offers a clear measuring stick: St. Louis tries to confirm January’s blueprint, while Carolina seeks the response that avoids a season sweep.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time in Raleigh (6 p.m. in St. Louis).