The Florida Panthers continued their impressive run in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. Fresh off a decisive Game 7 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs just two days prior, the Panthers traveled to Raleigh and secured a dominant 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the series opener.
Florida quickly took control in the first period. Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring with a slick backhand shot over the shoulder of Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen. Aaron Ekblad extended the lead shortly after, giving the Panthers a comfortable cushion from which the Hurricanes couldn`t fully recover.
Carolina captain Sebastian Aho narrowed the gap to 2-1 late in the first with a goal that drew some debate, but that was the closest the score would be. Florida`s balanced attack shone through as five different players found the net, highlighting their offensive depth. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky also delivered a strong performance, stopping 31 of 33 shots.
The Hurricanes` struggles in the Eastern Conference Final persist, marking their 13th consecutive defeat in this round. This unfavorable streak extends back to 2009. Carolina will look to end it in Game 2 on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference Final is set for a rematch of last year`s series between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers. Dallas is fresh off a tough six-game series win against the Winnipeg Jets, while Edmonton had more rest after eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights in just five games.
The Western Final promises high-octane offense. Mikko Rantanen, currently the leading scorer of the playoffs, spearheads the Stars against a potent Oilers lineup featuring stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Eastern Conference Final
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2
- Game 2: Thursday, May 22 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 3: Saturday, May 24 | 8 p.m. | at FLA | TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 4: Monday, May 26 | 8 p.m. | at FLA | TNT, truTV, Max
- *Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
- *Game 6: Friday, May 30 | 8 p.m. | at FLA | TNT, truTV, Max
- *Game 7: Sunday, June 1 | 8 p.m. | at CAR | TNT, truTV, Max
Western Conference Final
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 21 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
- Game 2: Friday, May 23 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
- Game 3: Sunday, May 25 | 3 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 27 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ESPN/ESPN+
- *Game 5: Thursday, May 29 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
- *Game 6: Saturday, May 31 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
- *Game 7: Monday, June 2 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
Round 2
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4
- Game 2: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3
- Game 3: Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
- Game 4: Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
- Game 5: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
- Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
- Game 7: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
- Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
- Game 2: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1
- Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 0
- Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2
- Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
- Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
- Game 2: Jets 4, Stars 0
- Game 3: Stars 5, Jets 2
- Game 4: Stars 3, Jets 1
- Game 5: Jets 4, Stars 0
- Game 6: Stars 2, Jets 1 (OT)
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
- Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT)
- Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
- Game 4: Oilers 3, Golden Knights 0
- Game 5: Oilers 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)
Round 1
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
- Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
- Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
- Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
- Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0
- Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
- Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0
- Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1
- Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2
- Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
- Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
- Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1
- Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3
- Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
- Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
- Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
- Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
- Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
- Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2
- Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT)
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
- Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
- Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
- Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2
- Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1
- Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3
- Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2
- Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2OT)
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
- Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
- Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
- Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
- Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
- Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2
- Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4
- Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
- Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
- Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
- Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
- Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT)
- Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5
- Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2
- Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4
- Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1
- Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4
Torin Vale 
Elton Marrow