Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes Clash Again in Eastern Conference Final
The Florida Panthers are back in the spotlight, and honestly, they’re looking to make a statement. Just two years ago, they were on the brink of becoming the NHL's elite, making it to the Stanley Cup Final, and then they came back last year to snag the Cup. Now, they find themselves in a familiar position, gearing up for the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, kicking off this Tuesday night.
Last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the Panthers swept the series, winning all four games by just a single goal. It was a nail-biter of a series that kicked off with a four-overtime thriller, which, by the way, is now etched in history as the sixth-longest game in NHL history. Talk about drama!
Matthew Tkachuk, a key player for the Panthers, reflected on that experience, saying, "That playoff experience started three years ago and this building was a part of that." He’s got some serious memories from that series, especially after scoring the game-winner in Raleigh and then another one just two nights later. "We have that to reflect on and go back on, but this is a whole new beast this time around," he added, hinting at the intensity of the upcoming matchup.
Fast forward to now, and the Panthers are riding high after a dominant 6-1 victory over Toronto in Game 7. They flew straight to Carolina on Monday, sticking to their routine of resting and hydrating after games. "If anything, we know there's a tremendous amount of work left that certainly doesn't get easier against a team like Carolina," said forward Sam Reinhart, emphasizing the challenge ahead.
The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have had a bit of a breather since they wrapped up their series against the top-seeded Washington Capitals in just five games. This marks their second trip to the Eastern Final in three seasons, and they’re looking to shake off a tough history. Since their last conference final win back in 2006, they’ve faced a series of disappointments, including being swept in 2009, 2019, and again two years ago. That’s a staggering 12 straight losses in conference finals, with eight of those coming from the current roster.
Carolina captain Jordan Staal shared his thoughts on the past, saying, "Two years ago, it didn't feel good obviously at the time. Whenever you have tough losses when you feel good about where you're headed, they always stick out in your mind." It’s clear that the weight of those past losses is still heavy on their minds.
In goal, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen has been nothing short of spectacular. He leads all goalies with a goals-against average of 1.36 and a save percentage of .937 among those with multiple postseason starts. Meanwhile, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has also been solid, entering this series with a 2.31 GAA and a .901 save percentage. It’s shaping up to be a battle of the goalies, for sure.
One interesting aspect of this matchup is that both teams boast the best penalty kills in the postseason. The Hurricanes are sitting pretty at No. 1, having successfully killed off 28 of 30 penalties (.933) through two rounds, while the Panthers are right behind them at No. 2, with 34 of 38 killed off (.895). This could lead to some intense power play battles, as Carolina has converted 9 of 32 chances (28.1%) and Florida is at 8 of 39 (20.5%).
Florida is making its mark in the NHL’s final four for the third consecutive season, tying the longest streak by any franchise in the last 20 postseasons. They’re in good company, as Dallas is also making its third straight appearance, set to face Edmonton in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference title series. Other teams like Tampa Bay, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Detroit have had similar runs in the past.
When you look at the rosters, there are 33 players in this series who have experience in the conference finals, with 17 from Florida and 16 from Carolina. That’s a lot of playoff experience on the ice! Among them, five players have racked up at least nine career points in this round of the playoffs, and they all play for Florida. Brad Marchand, Carter Verhaeghe, and Matthew Tkachuk each have 10 points, while Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett are close behind with nine.
It’s worth noting that Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov, who missed the last meeting due to a season-ending knee injury, is back and thriving. The 25-year-old, who was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2018, is having his best postseason yet, currently sitting second in playoff goals with eight, just behind Dallas’ Mikko Rantanen. He’s also been more disciplined this time around, having only been penalized once through two rounds.
Rod Brind'Amour, the Hurricanes' coach, praised Svechnikov’s impact, saying, "The effort's always been there. What you're seeing out of him through these two rounds anyway is he's impactful even when he's not on the scoresheet. You just kind of notice him." It’s clear that both teams are bringing their A-game, and fans can expect an electrifying series ahead.
