Raleigh, N.C. (AP) – The Florida Panthers were determined to win, putting in a grueling 48 hours for Game 7 on the road to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.
They faced no shortage of challenges, including playing in front of hostile fans. The team showcased their ability to lock down during penalty kills.
The Panthers decisively took control against the Carolina Hurricanes, quickly overcoming their home ice advantage and demonstrating their prowess with a 5-2 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
“I don’t know if that’s a statement,” noted Carter Verhaeghe, who scored a power play goal midway through the first period, keeping Florida in the lead and Carolina in pursuit. “They’ll do their best; we’re here to play hard every game.”
Both Verhaeghe and coach Paul Maurice emphasized that their success wasn’t simply a result of flawless play. Transitioning from the series against Tampa Bay and Toronto presented challenges. Maurice remarked on the contrast in styles, with teams being “dynamic in the middle of the ice” rather than relying solely on aggressive forechecks to control the puck in offensive zones.
“I believe the best growth for our team comes from overcoming losses,” Maurice explained. “Tonight’s game left something to be desired, but it’s a significant stylistic shift, and Game 1 was our first glimpse at a very different opponent.”
That being said, it was still a powerful performance.
The Panthers dominated with a 6-1 win on Sunday in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs. This victory led to a rematch in the 2023 East Final, where the Panthers had previously swept the series, including a thrilling four-overtime win in Game 1 that ended with Matthew Tkachuk’s goal, marking the sixth-longest game in NHL history.
Returning to their usual post-game routine, the Panthers prepared to travel to Carolina on Monday, focusing on rest and recovery. They were poised to continue their strong playoff performance, holding a perfect 5-0 record at home and capitalizing on the Hurricanes, who had been resting since eliminating the top-seeded Washington Capitals last Thursday.
“We know how to approach this, what our identity is,” said forward AJ Greer, who scored a crucial second-period goal to restore a two-goal advantage.
Verhaeghe set the tone by finding space near the crease on a power play, backhanding the puck past Frederic Andersen to give the Panthers an early lead against a Carolina penalty kill that had struggled, allowing two goals on 30 attempts across two rounds.
Aaron Ekblad then extended the lead to 2-0 just four minutes later. Greer responded to Sebastian Aho’s goal by finishing a perfect 2-on-1 backhand feed from Nico Mihec in the closing seconds of the second period.
Eetu Luostarinen added another goal, pushing the score to 5-1 as the outcome became apparent; five different players scored, and 11 registered at least one point.
Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves, performing steadily on the ice against Carolina.
“They play the same way we do,” remarked Carolina captain Jordan Staal. “You can see they execute their game plan effectively; they’re here for a reason.”
In the end, the only remaining topic was the skirmish involving Brad Marchand and Carolina’s Shayne Gostisbehere. Marchand received a misconduct penalty and was escorted off by officials after an altercation that followed a puck shot at Malkand, who had been acquired from Boston at the trade deadline.
This moment embodied the rebellious spirit of Florida’s victory.
“Our depth has been incredible all year, especially in the playoffs,” Bennett praised. “Every line contributes, and Bobi is on top of his game. It’s truly a team effort when everyone steps up like this.”
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AP NHL Playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Source: apnews.com