We didn’t have high expectations for this confrontation between the Panthers and the Hurricanes. At first glance, this Eastern Conference Finals didn’t offer anything very attractive.
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We have to admit we risk being entertained … and staying up late if the rest of the series is like the first clash where the two teams delivered in Raleigh on Wednesday.
For the 15th time in NHL history, it took us a fourth overtime to determine the winner of that game.
Matthew Tkachuk picked the right moment to end six-game lethargy. His goal, scored in the 19th and 47th minutes of overtime, handed the Panthers a 3-2 win. It was 1:54 am when this meeting, the sixth longest in history, ended.
In the first overtime, Ryan Lomberg, who was making a comeback, thought he had given the Panthers the win, but the umpires determined that Colin White had frustrated Frederik Andersen.
Two quarters later, Brandon Montour also had his chance in front of the Canes goalie when he was forgotten near the net. It would have been a great reward for the Panthers guard who spent 57 minutes and 27 seconds on the field. Only nine players have had busier nights than him since 1997-1998, when the ice ages began to recede.
Duclair predicted it
Speed, Intensity, Pressure. That’s what the two teams used on the ice of the PNC Arena. Two formations with a similar style: One is to place the puck behind opposing defenders and apply pressure to encourage errors.
In addition, Anthony Duclair had taken care to inform them what to expect, the journalists who came to pick him up in the morning.
The Panthers forward is precisely one of those who animated the show. His hard work, speed and vision of the game allowed him to be involved in Florida’s first two goals: those of Alexander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. In the second half of the middle section, two goals were scored 2 minutes and 15 seconds apart.
The Panthers got away with Game 1, but if they want to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1996, they need to stay out of the penalty box.
Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen both took advantage of a rival’s presence in the dungeon to thwart Sergei Bobrovsky.
And it’s not because the Hurricanes are a powerhouse. On 18 occasions in the previous seven games, their massive attack had only scored two goals (11.1%).
Rather, it is due to the atrocity of the Panthers’ outnumbered units. Paul Maurice’s team scored 65.8% in the first two rounds.
Solid Bobrosvky and Andersen
Without Bobrovsky’s team, the extension would never have been remotely possible. The Russian is enjoying his best moments since joining the Panthers in July 2019, hitting 14 shots in the third period alone. He received a total of 65 shots.
Among them, Martin Necas appeared alone before him. The Panthers goalie had the best time stopping it with the left ball.
Andersen, his counterpart, was almost as busy. He’s been bombarded with 60 shots, more than half of them in the last three overtimes.
- The Hurricanes could count on the return of Teuvo Teravainen. He underwent surgery for a broken left hand and hadn’t seen a play since the second game of the first round against the Islanders.