Despite one team having four days to rest and the other less than 48 hours, the Florida Panthers, fresh off their Game 7 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, maintained their aggressive approach. This led to a decisive 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday.
Many successful teams possess key characteristics they rely on. For the Panthers, taking a lead into the third period is one such trait that has helped them reach three consecutive conference finals. Their 3-1 advantage entering the final frame in Game 1 marked their 28th consecutive playoff win when leading after two periods.
How did the teams perform? Which players should you watch in the next game, and what are the main questions facing the Hurricanes and Panthers as they prepare for Game 2 on Thursday?
Team Grades
Carolina Hurricanes
Grade: C-
Carolina`s strategy in previous rounds against the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals heavily relied on controlling possession, which they managed effectively in Game 1, achieving a 56% shot share according to Natural Stat Trick metrics.
However, key moments where they lost control proved costly. A turnover directly led to A.J. Greer putting the Panthers up 2-0. The Panthers were also successful with their quick-passing plays, converting on two out of three power-play opportunities against what was the top-ranked penalty kill entering the series (93.3%).
Florida Panthers
Grade: A-
Florida picked up right where they left off after dominating Game 7 of their second-round series against Toronto, continuing to dominate another opponent.
The game started with exchanged chances, but after Carter Verhaeghe scored for Florida, they took control and held it through the end. Carolina did push back in the second period, creating several good scoring chances. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had to be sharp, mirroring his excellent form since the midpoint of the Toronto series. Bobrovsky delivered another focused performance that outshone Frederik Andersen, who was arguably the top goalie of the postseason before Tuesday`s game, backstopping the Panthers to another win.
Florida received contributions from across the lineup, starting with their 5-on-5 play and extending to the second power-play unit, which scored even after the Panthers went 15 minutes without a shot in the third period. Despite a brief slowdown, the Panthers appear to be firing on all cylinders.
Three Stars of Game 1
1. Sergei Bobrovsky
G, Panthers
Bobrovsky stopped 31 shots in the Game 1 victory, allowing only two goals. The Panthers have now outscored opponents 17-4 in their last three road playoff games, a result largely thanks to Bobrovsky`s play. This +13 goal differential is tied for the third-highest over a three-game road span in a single postseason.
2. A.J. Greer
LW, Panthers
Greer netted the game-winning goal, his second tally in the last four games. For comparison, he had only two goals in his final 45 regular-season games this season.
3. Aaron Ekblad
D, Panthers
Ekblad scored his seventh career playoff goal. This places him in a tie with Gustav Forsling for the second-most playoff goals by a defenseman in Panthers franchise history. Brandon Montour holds the record with 11 goals during his time with the team.
Players to Watch in Game 2
Jalen Chatfield
D, Hurricanes
Chatfield`s absence in Game 1 meant Carolina was missing a top-four defenseman who averages over 20 minutes per game this postseason. This led to Scott Morrow making his playoff debut.
The game was challenging for the 22-year-old, who spent most of the season with Carolina`s AHL affiliate. Morrow was on the ice for three of the Panthers` goals, and his delay-of-game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass resulted in Sam Bennett`s power-play goal that extended the lead to 4-1 with 13:52 remaining. Morrow played just over 12 minutes, the lowest ice time among Hurricanes defensemen by more than four minutes. Chatfield`s return for Game 2 would bring a reliable presence back to the lineup. However, if he misses Game 2 again, it will force Hurricanes coach Rod Brind`Amour to evaluate his defensive options.
Brad Marchand
LW, Panthers
Unsurprisingly, Brad Marchand was involved in the sole fight of Game 1. The Panthers forward reacted strongly to Carolina defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who appeared to shoot a puck towards him, dropping his gloves. Marchand received a four-minute penalty and a 10-minute misconduct, ending his participation in the third period. Marchand will be back and ready for action in Game 2. He was a noticeable force before the incident with Gostisbehere, providing a screen on Andersen for Sam Bennett`s power-play goal that effectively sealed the Panthers` win.
Will Marchand carry any frustration from the incident into Game 2, especially since Gostisbehere didn`t fully engage? If any player has built a career on getting under opponents` skin, it`s Marchand. He`s already setting the tone for how the Panthers plan to disrupt their latest opponent.
Big Questions for Game 2
How will the Hurricanes respond to their most significant loss in over a month?
Carolina`s last defeat by more than three goals was a 4-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on April 13. Since then, their few losses have been tight affairs. This postseason, they lost in overtime to the Devils in Game 3 (a series they won in five), and their single loss to the Capitals in Game 2 became a two-goal margin only after an empty-net goal. The Hurricanes have demonstrated resilience in recovering from close defeats. Can they rediscover the cohesion they lacked in Game 1`s three-goal loss to tie the series, or will they travel to South Florida facing a 2-0 deficit?
Are the Panthers heading for a fatigue-induced crash?
The Panthers are currently operating on significant adrenaline after extensive travel from Florida to Toronto and then directly to Raleigh following their Game 7 victory. While they didn`t appear exhausted in Game 1 against Carolina, it`s reasonable to wonder if the accumulated travel and short rest will catch up to them before Game 2, given the quick turnaround.
The Hurricanes now know what to expect, if they didn`t before, and will make adjustments. If they were perhaps too rested from several days off before Florida arrived, Carolina has no excuse not to perform better on home ice in Game 2. Carolina showed flashes in the third period that they are a better team than the final score indicated. They have their legs under them now. Whether that poses a problem for Florida remains to be seen on Thursday.
Gareth Tenby 
Duncan Priestley