| Florida Panthers | 5 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 2 |
| Remaining | |
Raleigh, N.C. —
Florida Panthers’ Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates his objective in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes throughout first interval of Sport 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Jap Convention finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Could 20, 2025. (AP Photograph/Karl DeBlaker)
For the primary time in these playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes discover themselves trailing in a sequence.
The Florida Panthers snatched home-ice benefit and a 1-0 sequence lead within the Jap Convention Finals with a 5-2 victory over the Hurricanes on Tuesday on the Lenovo Middle in Raleigh.
Carolina was unbeaten at house within the first two rounds in opposition to New Jersey and Washington.
However the Panthers, the reigning Stanley Cup champions and looking for a 3rd consecutive look within the last, present a bigger challenge for the Hurricanes.
“You bought to complete,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour stated. “They’re too good a group. They will get theirs. They received some actual good high-end scorers, so once you get your alternatives, it might not be many … you bought to discover a technique to put it by them.”
Carolina is looking for its first Cup look since 2006 and its first win within the convention last for the reason that similar yr. The Hurricanes have misplaced 13 straight Jap Convention Remaining video games over 4 sequence.
Florida scored two power-play targets in opposition to the very best postseason penalty kill within the NHL, handed Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen his worst night time of the postseason and stored the Hurricanes’ offensive-zone stress from leading to targets.
“You bought the 2 power-play targets, I feel that is actually the distinction within the recreation,” Brind’Amour stated. “You bought to kill these. You bought to offer them credit score. In case you give them an opportunity, it is within the web.”
Carolina had killed 28-of-30 penalties within the postseason, however Florida scored on two of its three probabilities in Sport 1. Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring on the ability play 8:30 into the sport after Sebastian Aho was referred to as for a roughing penalty after the whistle in retaliation to a success from Anton Lundell.
“That may’t occur. It is the unsuitable name,” Brind’Amour stated. “At the very least ought to have been 50-50. Cannot take a cross examine within the face after which name that. Now that results in the primary objective. In order that’s going to occur. They will miss stuff. It is unlucky as a result of that finally ends up being ultimately, places us type of behind the eight ball.”
What a ridiculous name by that referee. Simply silly. Aho has a proper to be fuming.
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) May 21, 2025
Sam Bennett scored on an influence play within the third interval to make it 4-1.
Andersen hadn’t allowed three targets in regulation in any of his 9 postseason video games this yr, however yielded 5 on 20 pictures in opposition to Florida. He entered the series sporting a 1.36 goals against average.
4 minutes after Verhaeghe opened the scoring, Florida’s Aaron Ekblad scored on a shot from the precise faceoff dot after a defensive zone turnover by Jordan Staal.
Carolina scored with 14.8 seconds left within the first when Aho redirected a go from Seth Jarvis together with his proper skate previous Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, a Hurricanes’ killer within the 2023 matchup.
No matter momentum the Hurricanes carried didn’t final lengthy. Florida’s A.J. Greer opened the second interval with a objective off a go from Niko Mikkola simply 3:33 into the interval because the Panthers had a 2-on-1 in opposition to defenseman Scott Morrow, making his playoff debut instead of Jalen Chatfield who missed his second consecutive recreation with an undisclosed damage.
Morrow had a delay of recreation penalty that resulted in Florida’s second energy play objective. Morrow was minus-3 in lower than 12 minutes of ice time.
Chatfield’s standing for Thursday’s Sport 2 is unsure, Brind’Amour stated. Rookie Alexander Nikishin performed within the finale of the second spherical and may very well be an choice once more if Chatfield is out.
It was 3-1 at that time, however Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen prolonged the sting to 5-1 within the third interval earlier than Carolina’s Jackson Blake scored the sport’s last tally.
“We received to be higher,” Staal stated.
The Panthers received Sport 7 in Toronto on Sunday night time and flew straight to Carolina. The Canes wrapped up their series Thursday with a win in Washington. Nevertheless it was Florida that was a bit sharper for many of the night time.
Florida’s Brad Marchand, acquired from Boston on the commerce deadline, earned a recreation misconduct penalty within the third interval after he rushed at Carolina’s Shayne Gostisbehere. The 2 fought after Marchand took offense to Gostisbehere hitting him with a puck simply after Marchand missed Gostisbehere with an elbow.
“Heated,” Gostisbehere stated after the sport. “I used to be fairly pissed off. He tried to take a run at me. I shot the puck at him. It’s what it’s. Had a bit of tussle.”
Game 2 is Thursday in Raleigh.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis (24) controls the puck in entrance of Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) first interval of Sport 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Jap Convention finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Could 20, 2025. (AP Photograph/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
Sport 1: Florida 5, Carolina 2
Sport 2: at Carolina, Thursday, Could 22, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Sport 3: at Florida, Saturday, Could 24, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Sport 4: at Florida, Monday, Could 26, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Sport 5: at Carolina (if obligatory), Wednesday, Could 28, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Sport 6: at Florida (if obligatory), Friday, Could 30, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Sport 7: at Carolina (if obligatory), Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
After every playoff recreation, WRAL’s Chris Lea and Pat Welter will break down the largest moments with insider evaluation from former NHL professional Shane Willis. Tune into WRAL at 11:25 p.m. for postgame protection.
