Florida got a confident victory in the first match of the final of the Eastern Conference! And Carolina suffered the 13th defeat in a row at this stage. Hurricanes so wanted to interrupt the unsuccessful series that they had a hunt for Sergei Bobrovsky.

Most of all, the Russian goalkeeper got from a compatriot.

Time for revenge?

The path of Carolina to the finals of the Eastern Conference turned out to be easier than that of Florida. “Hurricanz” first sent on vacation the bloodless “New Jersey” on vacation, and then dealt with the “Washington” for the same segment. And Panthers in the first round overcame the resistance of the Tampa, and then they knocked out Toronto, winning a seven -deck series.

So it is unlikely that the team of Mother Brindamora received at least some advantage from a longer rest. Still, Carolina had to meet the current champion who felt more confident with each game. Nevertheless, the Harrikainz had a real chance for the first time since 2006 to be in the Stanley Cup final and avenge Panthers for painful defeat at the same stage in 2023 (0-4).

To take revenge “hurrican” so far plans without Russian defender Alexander Nikishin. His role colleague Jaylen Chatfield has not yet recovered, but Scott Morrow took the place in the composition.

“They try to climb under the skin”

At the beginning of the first period, the teams exchanged deletions, but the hosts could not take advantage of the numerical advantage. Sergei Bobrovsky did not allow Carolina to open an account. But the Florida special brigade was more productive: in the ninth minute, Alexander Barkov brought the puck to the nickle, and Carter Verhege with an uncomfortable hand struck the near corner – 1: 0. The goalkeeper “Hurricanz” Frederick Andersen extremely unsuccessfully began the meeting.

The current champion did not stop there and after a few shifts increased the gap. The experienced Jordan Staal in his zone out of the blue lost his puck, which Evan Rodriguez took place immediately. The striker of the guests rolled over the gate and gave the transfer to the left circle of throwing, from where the defender Aaron Ekblad strongly charged into the distant upper corner – 2: 0. In this episode, Andersen had almost no chance to save the team due to dense traffic.

Two missed goals woke Karolina, which added to aggression and began to bother Bobrovsky more often. And 16 seconds before the siren, the hosts threw the puck in the locker room to the opponent. Seth Jarvis gave a strong pass in the hope of a substitution, but Sebastian Aho played much more cunning: Forward, standing his back to the gate, hit the puck and sent it to the net. The Russian goalkeeper simply did not expect such actions from the opponent. Andrei Svechnikov, who was earned by the assistant, also took part in the goal attack.

Andrey Svechnikov / Photo: © Jared C. Tilton / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Florida quickly returned the advantage to two goals. At the 24th minute, Panthers caught an opponent on a counterattack, which, from the transfer of Nico Mikkola, was completed by Anthony-John Grire-3: 1. Carolina desperately tried to equalize, but each time Bobrovsky helped out guests. The Russian executed excellent fish in the middle of the period: Taylor Hall knocked out a club from the goalkeeper from his hands, and after a few seconds, Sergei coped with a slaughter from a slaughter position without his working tool.

Soon, Hurricanes earned a majority, but again without goals. However, an unpleasant episode occurred in this draw of excess: Svechnikov tried to play by finishing off, accelerating on his heel, and his knee drove Bobrovsky into the head. The goalkeeper immediately fell on his back, and only after some time he managed to rise and continue the game.

The accident of the power striker can hardly be called, given that he emphasized his leg. And soon William Carrie, during the struggle in front of the gate, almost jumped onto Sergey. But somehow the hosts could not influence Bobrovsky and destroy his mental wall.

Sergey Bobrovsky / Photo: © Bruce Bennett / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

And in the third period, the players of Florida supported the goalkeeper, again upset Andersen. During the majority draw, Samuel Bennett accurately charged from the blue line – 4: 1. Less than 14 minutes remained at Carolina for salvation. However, Panthers did not turn off the instinct of the killer and at the end of the game segment, Tomash Noseck brought the puck to the nickle up from the gate, and this lioostarinen shot an empty corner from close range.

In the 57th minute, Jackson Blake realized the superfluous and reduced the lag-2: 5, but there was not enough time for more Carolina. As a result, Florida won a convincing victory in the first match of the series.

It is interesting that Bobrovsky, who was frankly arranged for, after the match gave a rather restrained comment.

-This is a playoff. They try to climb under the skin. This is fine. I just concentrate on my affairs, ”Bobrovsky noted after the match.