A rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals started off just how they left off — a Florida Panthers victory.
Florida, two days removed from eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs in their second-round series, dissected the Carolina Hurricanes in a 5-2 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad scored twice in the opening period to set the tone, and Sergei Bobrovsky remained impressive between the pipes, stopping 31 of 33 shots.
It was a showcase for the Panthers’ depth. A.J. Greer, Sam Bennett, and Eetu Luostarinen punched in the final goal for Florida.