We did not place too many expectations in this confrontation between the Panthers and the Hurricanes. At first glance, this Eastern Conference final did not offer anything very attractive.
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We must admit that if the rest of the series is like this first disputed meeting in Raleigh, we risk being entertained … and staying up late.
For the 15e time in the history of the NHL, we needed a fourth period of overtime to decide the winner of this meeting.
Matthew Tkachuk picked the right moment to end a six-game lethargy. His goal, scored 19 minutes and 47 seconds into the overtime, gave the Panthers a 3-2 win. It was 1:54 a.m. when this meeting, the sixth longest in history, ended.
During the first overtime, Ryan Lomberg, who was making a comeback, believed he had given the victory to the Panthers. However, the referees ruled that Colin White obstructed Frederik Andersen.
Two periods later, Brandon Montour also had his chance in front of the Canes goalkeeper, when he had been forgotten near the net. It would have been a great reward for the Panthers guard, who spent 57 min 27 s on the playing surface. started to be compiled.
Duclair predicted it
Speed, intensity, pressure. This is what the two teams deployed on the ice of the PNC Arena. Two formations with a similar style: one that consists of placing the puck behind opposing defenders and applying pressure to encourage them to make mistakes.
Moreover, Anthony Duclair had taken good care to inform the journalists of what awaited them during his meeting in the morning.
The Panthers striker is precisely one of those who animated the show. His hard work, his speed and his vision of the game allowed him to be an accomplice to the first two Florida goals: those of Alexander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. Two goals scored in an interval of 2 min 15 s in the second half of the middle period.
The Panthers got away with Game 1, but if they want to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996, they’ll have to stay away from the penalty box.
Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen both took advantage of the presence of a rival in the dungeon to thwart Sergei Bobrovsky.
And it’s not because the Hurricanes are a power play powerhouse. In 18 occasions during the seven previous games, their massive attack had scored only two goals (11.1%).
Rather, it’s due to the Panthers’ outnumbered unit atrocity. Paul Maurice’s squad posted a 65.8% percentage in the first two rounds.
Solid Bobrosvky and Andersen
The extension would never have come close to being possible without Bobrosvky’s outfit. The Russian is enjoying his best moments since joining the Panthers in July 2019. In the third period alone, he faced 14 shots. He received a total of 65 shots.
Among these, Martin Necas appeared alone in front of him. The Panthers goalkeeper had the best by stopping it with the left pad.
Andersen, his vis-à-vis, has been almost as busy. He was bombarded with 60 shots, more than half of them in the last three overtime periods.
- The Hurricanes were able to count on the return of Teuvo Teravainen. Operated for a broken left hand, he had not seen action since the second game of the first round against the Islanders.