Jaccob Slavin return. How the defenseman helped the Hurricanes top the Flyers
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jaccob Slavin returned after 29 missed games and rejoined Carolina’s defensive pairings.
- Brandon Bussi extended his run to 11-1-0 and secured his ninth straight win.
- Canes recorded three consecutive shootout victories for first time in franchise history.
The long wait for Jaccob Slavin has ended.
The Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman finally returned to the lineup Sunday in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Lenovo Center that earned goalie Brandon Bussi his ninth straight win.
Slavin last played for the Canes on Oct. 11 — against the Flyers in Raleigh. He then missed the next 29 games with an injury the Hurricanes — and Slavin again Sunday — would only call a “lower body” issue.
A knee problem? Something more serious? No one would say, although Slavin in time did return and get in some practices with the team. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour did say initially that the former NHL All-Star, believed to be a near lock for the U.S. Olympic team roster this year, did not undergo any preseason surgery or any other procedure.
But Brind’Amour had a somewhat surprising announcement Sunday about two hours ahead of game time: Slavin might be in the lineup as the Canes and Flyers finished up a rare home-and-home, back-to-back set.
For the second straight game, a shootout was needed to decide it. In the game Saturday in Philadelphia, the Canes’ Jackson Blake had the only shootout goal. It was Andrei Svechnikov who had the winner Sunday, beating goalie Dan Vladar with a sharp backhander.
In net for the Hurricanes, continuing his waivers-to-wonderment story was Bussi, who improved his record to 11-1-0. Bussi turned back shots by Christian Dvorak and Matvei Michkov, and Trevor Zegras hit the post with his attempt.
Add in the shootout win over Washington on Thursday, Bussi in net, and it was the first time in franchise history the team has recorded shootout victories in three consecutive games.
The Flyers’ two goals both came with an extra attacker, the first by Jamie Drysdale on a delayed penalty against Carolina, and then a Zegras goal after pulling Vladar in the final two minutes of regulation.
Forwards William Carrier and Taylor Hall scored for Carolina in the opening period for a 2-0 lead.
Slavin, who was paired with Alexander Nikishin on the third D pairing, played 14:31 in his return, about 10 fewer minutes in ice time than in many of his games.
“It’s hard playing that little,” he joked.
Slavin said he and the medical staff had Dec. 14 “circled” all along as the date for getting back in games. Come Sunday, he was ready, being activated off Injured Reserve.
In one sequence late in the opening period, Slavin first denied Zegras a shot, then used the back of his right leg to block a shot, a Slavin-being-Slav.in moment
“I was knocking off the rust for sure,” Slavin said. “But it was easy. Guys were helping out all over the ice. Coming back wasn’t too hard. I just have to make sure I’m in game shape.
“The guys did a great job while I was out. Obviously ‘Bus’has been holding down the fort back there.”
Bussi did that Sunday, being named the game’s first star and having Canes fans again chant his name at game’s end. Among his 24 saves were several quick, athletic stops but also a few where the 6-4, 210-pound goaltender strongly stood his ground as the Flyers jammed around him.
“Once you feel the confidence in the goalie, the game comes easy, and I think that’s what we feel as a group,” Svechnikov said. “Obviously he’s playing unbelievable hockey here.”
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM.
