By AIDAN JENSEN
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The Carolina Hurricanes are on a roll right now in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning their previous two series and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
They ended their long road postseason losing streak against the New York Islanders in Round One, battling for a 4-2 series win. After an abysmal Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Carolina dispatched the New Jersey Devils in five games.
Next up for the Canes are the scorching hot Florida Panthers, who are riding an impressive postseason of their own.
Florida did the unthinkable in Round One – roaring back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the record-setting, President’s Trophy-winning (most regular-season points) Boston Bruins in seven games. They advanced to the next round and played the Toronto Maple Leafs, dominating them in five.
Why are these Panthers, who entered the playoffs with the worst record among playoff teams, suddenly one of the most dangerous teams in hockey?
They’ve shown an ability to win close games, a crucial part of postseason success.
Dating back to Game 5 against the Bruins, each one of Florida’s final results are one or two goals. The Panthers are 7-1 in those contests, including a 4-0 mark in overtime.
Florida has balance on their roster – nine players have six or more points, five players have at least four playoff goals, while four have a minimum six assists. Matthew Tkachuk (five goals, 11 assists, 16 points) and Carter Verhaeghe (5-7-12) both have double-digit points.
The Panthers carry two reliable goalies – Alex Lyon and Sergei Bobrovsky, with the ladder looking like his Vezina Trophy (top goalie) self in net.
Bobrovsky is second among playoff goalies with seven wins, plus he carries a 2.82 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. Lyon has a win under his belt and a .902 save percentage.
Florida passes the puck extremely well, which leads to several solid scoring chances. The Panthers are young and fast, with a mix of proven veterans. They have one of the top goalies in the NHL. They’re a team that, frankly, not many expected to even advance past the opening round.
With all this being said, the Panthers play a very carefree brand of hockey. Players are enjoying the ride while proving everyone wrong. There is no pressure on Florida, making it significantly easier to rise from the lows and come down from the highs.
All of a sudden, the Florida Panthers are a serious contender to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The Canes are also as much of a contender – if not the favorite to win the Cup.
Carolina has a young, speedy team of their own with proven playoff veterans (Paul Stastny, Jordan Staal). Sebastian Aho is the leader the Canes need – he is tied for the postseason team lead in points (10), scoring five goals and dishing out five more assists. Frederik Andersen is playing lights-out hockey, finding himself third among postseason goalies with a .931 save percentage and fourth with five wins. Guys are continuing to step up – most notably Jordan Martinook, who is tied with Aho atop Carolina’s points board (10).
The Canes are passing the puck as well as ever. They’re setting up offense with ease, whether that be skating through the opposition’s defense or creating turnovers. Their defense is suffocating, closing out on skaters and limiting scoring chances. Dating back to Game 6 of the Islanders series, Carolina’s defense has held teams to two goals or less.
But the Panthers are a new challenge. A different challenge. Just like the Canes, Florida plays in the Southeast.
Buckle up for what should be a back-and-forth, physical and exciting series.
Will Carolina have a shot at its second Stanley Cup title in franchise history, or will the Panthers capture their first?
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