Panthers Lead Series After Physical Game 2 Victory Over Hurricanes

Raleigh, NC (AP) — The Florida Panthers extended their series lead to 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Final with a commanding 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Tuesday night.

Florida came out strong, scoring three goals in the first period alone. Sam Bennett opened the scoring on a power play at 15:50, with assists from Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues. Just moments later, at 11:41, Matthew Tkachuk found the net, again assisted by Verhaeghe. The Panthers continued their offensive onslaught with Gustav Forsling scoring at 1:17, assisted by Tkachuk and Bennett.

The Hurricanes struggled to find their rhythm, with Andrei Svechnikov landing a 2:00 penalty for roughing earlier in the first period. Despite their efforts, they were unable to capitalize on power play opportunities.

Goalkeeper Sergey Bobrovsky made 31 saves throughout the game, allowing only one even-strength goal in the last five games. “We stayed disciplined and played our game,” Bobrovsky said after the match.

The Panthers’ blend of offensive talent saw contributions from five different players, proving their depth once again. On the opposite side, Carolina’s forward, Martin Necas, found the net late in the third period but it wasn’t enough to change the game’s momentum.

This win marks the Hurricanes’ first home loss in the playoffs this season and their loss extends to 13 consecutive defeats in the third round of the playoffs, making the path ahead challenging. “We need to regroup for the next game and find a way to win,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour.

The series now shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4, where the Panthers aim to continue their strong playoff run.