For the Carolina Hurricanes, the new year began Thursday with forward Seth Jarvis back on the ice — and then a wild loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Talk about taking the good with the bad.
Jarvis, sidelined since Dec. 19, was at the Canes’ morning skate at Lenovo Center, wearing a yellow, no-contact jersey and anxious to get back in the lineup.
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The Canes could have used him Thursday night against the quick, aggressive Canadiens, who wiped out a two-goal Carolina lead and skated off with a 7-5 victory.
Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho tied his career high with a five-point night (two goals, three assists), and Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers each had a goal and two assists as the three were reunited on the top line. But a combination of poor puck management by Carolina and an opportunistic transition game by the Canadiens proved to be the difference.
“Obviously we’re missing a lot of important pieces,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the game. “It’s obvious we have deficiencies, and they’re starting to show. “
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After falling behind 2-0, the Canes (24-13-3) regrouped to take a 4-2 lead in the second period, but the Habs (22-12-6) surged in front before the period ended, scoring their fourth and fifth goals 23 seconds apart late in the frame. The Canes made a push in the third, but Juraj Slafkovsky gave the Habs a 6-4 lead.
Goalie Brandon Bussi has been difference-maker for the Canes since they claimed him off waivers, and a big story in the league. But Bussi struggled Thursday, allowing six goals on 22 shots — the Habs’ final score was an empty-netter.
“He had a tough night tonight, but he’s been great all year,” Brind’Amour said.
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‘I’ve got to live with that’
Jarvis, injured in the road game against the Florida Panthers, said being out the past few weeks has been “painful,” both in not being able to play and in learning he had been left off Hockey Canada’s Olympic team roster for the 2026 Winter Games, set next month in Italy.
Jarvis, 23, was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team in the 4 Nations Face-Off international event last season. His numbers with the Canes this season until the injury seemed promising enough to be included on the Olympic roster: 19 goals and 29 points in 34 games, with two shorthanded goals and four game-winning goals, two in overtime.
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Jarvis said Thursday that he was not sure the injury and missed time kept him off the Hockey Canada roster.
Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after scoring a goal during the third period of the game against the New Jersey Devils at Lenovo Center on October 09, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jarvis went down injured Thursday against the Islanders after taking two pucks off the left foot.
“I don’t think so, though it definitely didn’t help,” he said. “But at the end of the day I had played enough games where I thought I gave a good sample size. I guess I didn’t play good enough, and I’ve got to live with that.
“It sucks. It’s a big blow. It’s something I really worked for and wanted to achieve, but there’s nothing you can do about it now. I gave myself a couple of days to take it in, feel emotions, and now it’s just moving past it.”
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The Canes now are 2-4-0 in the six games he has been out as the injuries are taking a toll. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin has missed all but five games this season, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere missed a third game with a lower-body issue and goalie Pyotr Kochetov has been lost for the season with a hip ailment that will require surgery.
Jarvis was hurt early in overtime against the Panthers. On the move and taking the puck to the net, he was tripped by Florida’s Evan Rodrigues, fell and crashed into the near post, appearing to injure his ribs. No penalty was called on the play, and the Canes lost in a shootout.
Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena on October 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Jarvis went down injured Thursday against the Islanders after taking two pucks off the left foot.
Placed on NHL injured reserve Dec. 20, Jarvis’ status has been listed as “week to week.” The same for Slavin.
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“To go out like that, and not know what your recovery time period is, is tough,” Jarvis said. “I tried to take it day by day, but that’s easier said than done when you see your friends all skating and I’m sitting on the bench watching practice.
“There’s not much you can really do other than taking your time and trying not to stress it too much, which is tough. Now that I’m pretty much pain free day to day, I’m better.”
Slavin, a standout in the 4 Nations event for the U.S. and arguably the best player in the competition, is expected to be on the Team USA Olympic roster — to be announced Friday — despite his nearly season-long absence because of lower-body issues.
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Jarvis said he has been placed on a “standby” reserve list for Team Canada and could be added if there is an injury. That’s not a great option for the Winnipeg native, but it is an option.
“They told me not to book any trips or anything,” Jarvis said. “It’s still a waiting game, but obviously I’m hoping nobody gets hurt. Obviously, if they call my name I’ll be more than ready to come and contribute, but I’m not wishing ill will on anybody.
“If I do get picked, and it just so happens that I go, awesome. But I’ve already dealt with the emotions of it and moved past it.”
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Jarvis said the snub could be used as added motivation the rest of the season and Brind’Amour liked the sound of that, noting, “He’s got to use it however he needs to use it.”
For now, Jarvis wants to get back in the Canes lineup. Asked when he might take off the yellow jersey and replace it with a game jersey, Jarvis said the doctors and trainer Doug Bennett will make that call.
“I can take it off right now and probably fight ‘Svechy,’” he joked, looking over at forward Andrei Svechnikov.