2023 Postseason: Eastern Conference Final, Game 3- Hurricanes at Florida Panthers (FLA leads 2-0)

It's time for the Canes to make a move as they enter the two-game stretch in Sunrise. They've dropped both games in Raleigh, something we haven't seen from them in a while. While both losses came in overtime, they still go down as losses as the Panthers hold a commanding 2-0 series lead. Saturday night's contest was another goalie duel as Sergei Bobrovsky followed up his four-overtime performance with another great start as he stopped 35 shots to beat Antti Raanta, getting the start after Frederik Andersen played almost 140 minutes. Raanta was just as good, he just allowed one more goal. Jalen Chatfield started the scoring early in the first period before Aleksander Barkov tied it in the second period for the second straight game. Neither team scored in the third period and an early penalty from Jesperi Kotkaniemi in overtime allowed the Panthers the perfect opportunity to strike. Matthew Tkachuk was the hero in overtime once again as Florida celebrated another hard-fought victory, their sixth in overtime this postseason. The Canes can't waste this game. The offense needs to come alive like it did against the Devils in the second round. Going down 3-0 is practically a death sentence in the playoffs with only four teams ever overcoming such a hole. 

Canes Lineup

Stefan Noesen-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis

Mackenzie MacEachern-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Teuvo Teravainen

Jack Drury-Jordan Staal-Martin Necas

Jordan Martinook-Paul Stastny-Jesper Fast

Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns

Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce

Shayne Gostisbehere-Jalen Chatfield

Injuries/Scratches/Extras- Derek Stepan (healthy), 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)

The lines are being shuffled around for tonight's contest. The first line is the only one that will remain the same. Mackenzie MacEachern and Teuvo Teravainen will jump to the second line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Jordan Staal will center Jack Drury and Martin Necas. Jordan Martinook and Jesper Fast will remain together, playing with Paul Stastny tonight. The defensive pairs will remain the same and Antti Raanta will be the backup. 

Starting Goalies

FLA- Sergei Bobrovsky (9-2, 35 Saves, 1 GA in Game 2) 

After another stellar start in Game 2, one has to think that he's due for a bad start at some point. Until then, Bobrovsky holds the league lead in wins (9), is second in save percentage (.931), and fourth in GAA (2.32) in this amazing return to form. 

CAR- Frederik Andersen (5-1, 57 Saves & 3 GA in Game 1)

Not that Raanta was bad in Game 2 but it was very clear that the Canes were resting Andersen so he could start in Game 3. Andersen leads all goalies in the postseason in save percentage (.936) and GAA (1.65) and has just one loss, coming in Thursday's marathon game. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

None

2nd Period

(FLA) 10:05- Sam Reinhart (7) PP (assisted by Matthew Tkachuk (12) & Sam Bennett (7))

3rd Period

None

Let's Talk About the Game

It's hard to keep a level head after this one because the Canes were absolutely cheated out of a power play at the end of the game. With less than two minutes left, Shayne Gostisbehere took a stick up high that hit him in the visor right in front of the referee. Gostisbehere sells the hell out of it by holding his mouth even though it missed. The four officials got together and no penalty was assessed. I get that he didn't get caught in the mouth but even when you're hit in the visor, it's considered a high stick. I'll even play devil's advocate for the referee closest to the play for likely not seeing it, but for the three other guys to not see it means one of two things. Either they saw it and just didn't call it, or they weren't watching the play, which would be its own set of issues. I'm not even saying the Canes would've scored on it but it's such a blatant penalty that it's absolutely dumbfounding that it wasn't called. The officiating in this game was very suspect all night. The Canes had to kill an abbreviated 5-on-3 in the second period while down 1-0 after a very soft call on Jordan Martinook for slashing. The Canes had one power play to Florida's four in the game. That one power play was a festering turd from the Canes, while Florida's only goal of the game came from Sam Reinhart on the power play midway through the second period. 

This game is a perfect example of everything that has gone wrong for the Canes in this series. First, Sergei Bobrovsky was spectacular again tonight. Pitching a shutout is obviously a good indication of how well the night went but he made some great stops, especially on Sebastian Aho. I'm starting to feel like a broken record by saying that he's the biggest reason the Panthers have made it this far and are now up 3-0 in the series. He once again outshines an outstanding performance from the Canes' netminders. Frederik Andersen was amazing again tonight. He just didn't get the run support he deserved. The puck luck for the Canes continues to be non-existent. They hit three posts tonight, one in each period. Jesper Fast redirected one off the far post in the first period. Brady Skjei rang the crossbar flush in the second period. Brett Pesce rounded it out with a post in the third period as the Canes dominated the third period for the third straight game. 

There just isn't much you can say at this point to make this feel better than what it is. The Canes are one loss away from packing it up for the summer and a loss in Game 4 would make it 12-straight losses in the Eastern Conference Final. The Panthers have played a very good series but I can't say that they have been the better team. However, the scoreboard shows that they've been one goal better in every game and that's all that matters. Someone has to step up and lead the charge because too many guys are spectators right now. Martin Necas has disappeared. Jordan Martinook hasn't found the magic he had in the second round. Jordan Staal hasn't been as effective. Aho can't carry the load offensively by himself. He needs help and he just didn't get it tonight. I'm saying it's over yet and I'm willing to go down with the ship, but the iceberg is right in front of us and we're heading right toward it. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

I never do stars for shutouts but Sebastian Aho, Brent Burns, and Frederik Andersen deserve a lot of credit. They tried to put the team on their back and will them to a win but it wasn't meant to be. I'm sticking to tradition here but they were good tonight. 

Around the League

WCF- Dallas/Vegas (VGK 2-0)- Overtime was needed once again as the Stars and Golden Knights battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation after a late goal from Jonathan Marchessault. Once again, Vegas struck early in overtime as Chandler Stephenson won it 1:12 into the extra session to take a 2-0 series lead.