2023 Postseason: Eastern Conference Final, Game 1- Hurricanes v. Florida Panthers

There are four teams left in the postseason and we're about to see the beasts of the east collide for their chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. While Carolina was a likely candidate to make it this far, the Florida Panthers have defied expectations in their first two series. After coming back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins in seven games, Florida dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs, eliminating them in five games behind excellent goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers won all three games on the road in their series against Toronto, continuing their road dominance in the postseason. Carolina also needed just five games to advance, scoring 24 goals to send the New Jersey Devils packing for the summer. Jordan Martinook had ten points in the round, tying him with Connor McDavid for the most points during this most recent round. Frederik Andersen was also stout, allowing two or fewer goals in four of the five games. Carolina has done a lot of their damage at home, winning five of their six home games in the postseason. The Canes are hoping to rid the ghosts that have plagued them at this stage in the postseason during their last two trips. After winning the Eastern Conference Final in 2002 and 2006, they've been swept in their last two trips in 2009 and 2019. Between the two teams, they've eliminated three of the top four teams in the league this season, meaning both teams are battle-tested. I don't expect fatigue to be an issue since neither team has played in about a week. The struggle for the Prince of Wales Trophy begins tonight as two of the hottest teams in the league collide. 

Canes Lineup

Stefan Noesen-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis

Jordan Martinook-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Jesper Fast

Teuvo Teravainen-Jordan Staal-Martin Necas

Jack Drury-Paul Stastny-Derek Stepan

Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns

Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce

Shayne Gostisbehere-Jalen Chatfield

Injuries/Scratches/Extras- Mackenzie MacEachern (broken hand), Antti Raanta (healthy), Jesse Puljujarvi (healthy), Calvin de Haan (healthy), Dylan Coghlan (healthy), Pyotr Kochetkov (healthy)

IR- Andrei Svechnikov (Torn ACL), Max Pacioretty (Achilles), Ondrej Kase (concussion)

After breaking his hand in Game 2 of the first round, Teuvo Teravainen is expected to draw back into the lineup tonight. His surgically repaired hand had healed enough for him to be a full participant in practice in the lead-up to the series. He'll replace Mackenzie MacEachern in the lineup. Teravainen will join Jordan Staal and Martin Necas on the third line with Jack Drury sliding into MacEachern's spot. Otherwise, the lineup will remain the same. 

Starting Goalies

FLA- Sergei Bobrovsky (7-2 this postseason, 1.89 GAA & .943 SV% in the 2nd Round)

As has his entire team, Bobrovsky has been one of the best stories of the postseason. After starting the postseason as the backup, Bobrovsky came in and commanded the net to begin the comeback against Boston. Against Toronto, he allowed two goals in all five games, limiting a lethal offense to a measly effort in the second round. 

CAR- Frederik Andersen (5-0 this postseason, 2.01 GAA & .918 SV% in the 2nd Round)

Outside of one bad start against New Jersey, Andersen has been everything the Canes could've hoped he'd be. He allowed just five goals in the Canes' four wins over the Devils to go along with the one goal he allowed in his first start in Game 6 against the Islanders. The defense in front of him has made his job a little easier but Andersen has been sturdy this postseason. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

(CAR) 19:48- Seth Jarvis (5) PP (assisted by Sebastian Aho (6) & Brent Burns (7))

2nd Period

(FLA) 15:28- Aleksander Barkov (3) (assisted by Anthony Duclair (5) & Carter Verhaeghe (8))

(FLA) 17:43- Carter Verhaeghe (6) (assisted by Anthony Duclair (6) & Aleksander Barkov (8))

3rd Period

(CAR) 3:47- Stefan Noesen (4) PP (assisted by Seth Jarvis (5) & Martin Necas (3))

Overtime

None

2nd Overtime

None

3rd Overtime

None

4th Overtime

(FLA) 19:47- Matthew Tkachuk (6) (assisted by Sam Bennett (5))

Let's Talk About the Game

If this is a sign of things to come, it tells me a few different things. First, we could be in for an amazing series despite all of the negativity from the larger markets. This was a heavyweight bout that went well into the early morning hours of Friday, meaning I'm writing this on Friday morning on a few hours of sleep. Second, it means that the Canes are going to have their work cut out for them because this Florida team seems to have a plan and an outstanding goalie that is hellbent on dragging them to the Stanley Cup Final. Third, last night's loss for the Canes means that winning on the road is going to be an even bigger deal. Florida drew first blood in the series by outlasting the Canes in their own barn. As they've done in the first two rounds, they need to find something on the road when the series shifts to Sunrise. 

It felt like the Panthers dictated the pace of play to start the game. They spent a lot of time in the Canes' end but Frederik Andersen stood his ground. It wasn't until the Canes drew the first penalty of the game as Sam Bennett threw the puck over the glass. Jesperi Kotkaniemi nearly set up a goal while sliding on his knees but Sergei Bobrovsky made an even better save with his blocker to deny Jack Drury. Sebastian Aho would then ring a post on a 2-on-1 as the game remained scoreless. Florida took two penalties in quick succession late in the period with Marc Staal sitting for a trip and Aaron Ekblad penalized for a cross-check, the latter of which got Paul Maurice fired up. While the Canes couldn't convert on the 5-on-3, Seth Jarvis would blast home a shot with 11 seconds left in the period from between the dots as he sent the game into the first intermission with the Canes ahead. Maurice continued to let the referees hear it as he went off the ice. 

Maurice's complaining would get the Panthers an early power play in the second period as Brett Pesce sat for a weak cross-checking call. The Canes suffocated Florida's power play, never allowing them to get a shot at Andersen. Stefan Noesen nearly made it 2-0 after the puck took a good bounce off the glass but he forced it wide. Martin Necas would then sit for slashing but the Cnaes were once again all over the Panthers. While their power play was unsuccessful, it did allow them to turn their newfound momentum into offense and it was all thanks to one line. Aleksander Barkov got his team on the board with less than five minutes left in the period. A little over two minutes later, with the Barkov line out again, Carter Verhaeghe snapped a shot off of the far post and past Andersen with the Canes' netminder screened to put Florida ahead in a shocking turn of events. The Canes wasted little time getting to work in the third period to tie it up and would do so with an early power play. After winning a battle along the boards, Necas, Jarvis, and Noesen combined for a tic-tac-toe play that would end with Noesen elevating a shot past Bobrovsky to knot it. Little did we know that this would be the last goal for nearly 96 minutes of gameplay. The Canes owned the third period, outshooting Florida 14-2 but they were unable to get anything more than the one goal as we went to overtime, the first one. 

Florida thought they'd won the game early in overtime as Ryan Lomberg spun and fired one past Andersen but it was very clear that something was off with the play. Andersen was well out of position when the shot came and it was because Colin White was in the crease. As the Panthers celebrated, the Canes remained on the ice as the league initiated a review of the goal. During the play, White is engaged with Drury and they both end up in the crease. White makes contact with Andersen as he's exiting the crease and it never allowed Andersen to have any chance to get back. The referees eventually waved the goal off as the game continued. Shortly after the review, Florida would earn a power play but the Canes killed it off. The Canes would then get a power play at the end of overtime. They were inches away from ending it as Jarvis rang the bottom of the crossbar but there was no puck luck to be found. Neither goalie would relent in the first overtime and the same would hold true in the second overtime as both Bobrovsky and Andersen went save-for-save, as they had been doing for most of the night. 

By the time we reached the third overtime, everyone in attendance and everyone at home knew we were witnessing something special. Brandon Montour, who at this point was chasing history of his own, had a chance to win it all alone in front of Andersen but was denied by the blocker. Gustav Forsling also had a chance as he walked down from the point but his shot was snagged by Andersen. As the period wore on, history would be made for both franchises. This game would officially become the longest game in either franchise's history. Necas nearly ended the history-making game with a redirection but his shot went high over the net. Nothing would be resolved in the third overtime as both teams entered their first-ever four-overtime game. The Canes earned an early power play with a chance to win it that would be unsuccessful. Andersen made some huge saves early in the seventh period, robbing Verhaeghe with his paddle and stopping Bennett all alone on a backhand. He also denied Anton Lundell on a 2-on-1 before getting a little puck luck of his own with Lundell redirecting a shot off of the crossbar. Time started winding down and just as it looked like the game was heading to a fifth overtime, Bennett won a battle along the boards to force a turnover and got the puck to Matthew Tkachuk, who wasted little time in snapping a shot over the glove of Andersen and into the back of the net at 1:55 am on Friday morning to end the sixth-longest game in NHL history. It was a deflating feeling, though I'm sure most people were just ready for bed at that point. 

We can sit here and talk about how the Canes lost this game and while there are certainly reasons why this happened, I think we're better off appreciating this game for what it was. It was truly an epic contest. Montour nearly spent an hour on the ice (57:57). His defensive partner Forsling wasn't far behind (55:41). Both Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin eclipsed 50 minutes too. Burns had ten blocked shots in the game. Bobrovsky and Andersen combined to stop 120 of 125 shots. Carolina and Florida played nearly seven complete periods of hockey. Yes, the Canes lost. The two goals at the end of the second period by Florida really killed them. If just one of those is prevented, it saves us several hours of overtime hockey. The game going this long also provides some interesting stories for Game 2. I'd have to imagine that fatigue will play a major factor after a game like this. I'm also curious whether Rod Brind'Amour elects to start Antti Raanta. The move obviously wouldn't be performance-based because Andersen was spectacular. I don't think the Panthers will have much of a decision to make because Bobrovsky has to be in the net for them. At the end of the night, the Canes will be playing from behind but don't count them out just yet. In 2006, the Canes lost Game 1 at home to the Buffalo Sabres, albeit in regulation, before going on to win the series in seven games. I expect a strong response on Saturday night. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Stefan Noesen (Goal)

Without Noesen's tying goal in the third period, we don't get to witness history. That's not the only reason I have him in this spot though. I thought he played a solid game all night. He led the team with six hits while adding five shots in just under 40 minutes of ice time. Still, his goal was a big one to even things up on the power play as the Canes prepared for a long night. 

Second Star- Seth Jarvis (Goal, Assist)

I feel like Jarvis' postseason hasn't been the flashiest, yet he's near the top of the team in points and tied for the most goals after a two-point night in Game 1. His goal at the end of the first period was huge because ending that period scoreless after having a 5-on-3 would've been deflating. He also added a primary assist on the Noesen goal and nearly won the game in overtime if not for a pesky crossbar. 

First Star- Frederik Andersen (57 Saves)

It's a shame that Andersen was the second-best goalie on the ice in this one because he was truly marvelous. He faced 40 shots across the four overtimes and was nearly perfect. His 57 saves are a new franchise record for a postseason game. It was something special watching him perform in this one as he gave the team every chance to pull out a victory. 

Around the League

WCF- Dallas/Vegas (Begins Friday)- I'd like to see Vegas and Dallas top what we just saw, though I'll be in bed if they do. The Western Conference Final will begin tonight in Vegas.