| Florida Panthers | 4 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 0 |
| TNT | 2nd – 00:00 | |
The Carolina Hurricanes find themselves in another big hole against the Florida Panthers — and the Lenovo Center crowd didn’t hide its disappointment.
The Hurricanes trail 4-0 after the second period of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday in Raleigh and are in danger of falling behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series with the next two games on the road.
Some in the crowd at Lenovo Center, typically one of the loudest in the NHL, booed the home team and began chants of “shoot the puck, shoot the puck” at times in the second period. Carolina had seven shots on goal in two periods against Florida, the reigning Stanley Cup champions who have represented the Eastern Conference in the championship round two years in a row.
And it has been trailing for nearly all of the game.
Florida scored less than 80 seconds into the first period. Andrei Svechnikov turned the puck over in the Hurricanes’ zone, leading to a goal by Gustav Forsling off a pass from Matthew Tkachuk. It was Forsling’s first goal of the playoffs, and a poor start for Carolina.
Later in the period, the Panthers kept the puck in the Carolina zone, ending up with a 2-on-1 in front of the net. Tkachuk got enough of Carter Verhaeghe’s pass across the crease to score past Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen for a 2-0 lead.
Florida scored on the game’s first power play in the final minutes of the first period. Svechnikov was called for roughing on Tkachuk to give Florida the man advantage. Carolina had its best chance of the game shorthanded, but Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped Jordan Martinook. Later in the power play, Sam Bennett deflected a Verhaeghe shot past Andersen.
The Panthers added a fourth goal late in the second period when Bennett jammed one home.
Andersen had been spectacular through two rounds, but he has allowed nine goals in five periods against Florida. Andersen entered the series with a 1.36 goals against average in the postseason. Florida scored three goals on five shots on goal in the first period.
The Hurricanes fell behind 2-0 in the first period of Game 1 and never led. They fell to 3-3 in games when they don’t score first this postseason. Carolina is 5-0 when they do score first this postseason.
“Getting out ahead would be great,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said before the game. “If you can get them off the their game by making them chase the game, that’d be great. We know how loud it is in here. We got to give these guys something to cheer about.”
It didn’t happen.
Defenseman Jalen Chatfield missed his third consecutive game, a big loss for the Hurricanes. Chatfield was a late scratch for Carolina. He initially appeared on the team’s list of active players, but Scott Morrow remained in the lineup on defense for the second consecutive game.
Morrow skated just two shifts in the first period.
Forward Mark Jankowski was also back in the lineup. Jankowski had not played since Game 1 of the Hurricanes’ previous series with Washington. Jankowski replaced Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the lineup.
“[Chatfield]’s such a big part of this team and the back end, and we know how well he skates, and just, man, he’s everything,” Brind’Amour said hours before the start of Game 2.
Chatfield played in 79 games for the Canes this regular season, adding 18 points and a +22 goal differential. He plays a pivotal role in the Hurricanes’ league-best penalty kill.
The Hurricanes have struggled to replace Chatfield on defense.
Morrow made his playoff debut in Chatfield’s place in Game 1 against Florida. Morrow played 12:18, the fewest of any Carolina defenseman, in the loss and was minus-3. He also took a penalty for delay of game, and Florida scored on the ensuing power play.
Rookie Alexander Nikishin made his NHL debut in the Hurricanes’ series-clinching Game 5 victory against Washington when Chatfield was out. Nikishin played 10:33 and also took a penalty.
Jankowski has played in three games this postseason. He has one assist. Kotkaniemi has three games in 11 playoff games this season. He was on the ice for less than 12 minutes in the first game of the series, the second-fewest among Carolina forwards.
The Hurricanes have lost 13 consecutive games in the Eastern Conference Final, spread across four series, including a sweep by Florida in 2023.
Preview: Tussle between Carolina’s Gostisbehere, Florida’s Marchand stands out ahead of Game 2
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers schedule
Game 1: Florida 5, Carolina 2
Game 2: Florida at Carolina, Thursday, May 22, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 3: Carolina at Florida, Saturday, May 24, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 4: Carolina at Florida, Monday, May 26, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 5: Florida at Carolina (if necessary), Wednesday, May 28, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 6: Carolina at Florida (if necessary), Friday, May 30, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 7: Florida at Carolina (if necessary), Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Postgame show: After each playoff game, WRAL’s Chris Lea and Pat Welter will break down the biggest moments with insider analysis from former NHL pro Shane Willis. Tune into WRAL at 11:25 p.m. for postgame coverage.
