Panthers shutout the Canes 5-0 and secure their 2-0 series lead in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals
- Lyanna Yeow
- May 22, 2025
- 4 min read
Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes (GAME 2)
The Florida Panthers won Game 2 in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025. This matchup took place at the Lenovo Center and ended with a Panthers' 5-0 shutout. Read about what led to the Panthers’ win, the standout players of each team, stats, and when their next game is scheduled!
Game Recap
A couple injuries occurred during this Game 2 battle between the Panthers and Canes. Panthers’ #13 Sam Reinhart did not return due to a lower body injury caused by a knee-on-knee hit by Canes’ #20 Sebastian Aho during the first period. Canes’ #24 Seth Jarvis also headed down the tunnel after his head bounced off the ice after a hit which occurred during the third period of the game. Although Reinhart’s presence was missed, this injury did not stop the Panthers’ momentum throughout this game.
The life was sucked out of Lenovo Center when #42 Gustav Forsling beat the Canes’ goaltender, #31 Frederik Andersen, and made it a 1-0 game with a goal scored on the Panthers’ first shot of the game. The Panthers continued their goal-scoring momentum and made it a 3-0 game by the end of the first period. #19 Matthew Tkachuk made it a 2-0 game for the Panthers after capitalizing on a 2-on-1 situation made possible by an unfortunate Canes turnover. Although the Panthers were unable to score during their man-advantage, they were able to extend their lead by three-goals after #20 Sam Bennett deflected the puck into the back of the net. The Panthers’ third goal of the game was made possible when the Panthers regained puck possession after their goaltender, #72 Sergei Bobrovsky, denied a Canes shorthanded goal. With a minute and twenty seconds left in the first period, the Panthers were caught with too many men on the ice which put the Canes on the power play. #72 Bobrovsky was able to remain solid in net and maintain the Panthers 3-0 lead going into the second period with thirty-three seconds left on the Canes’ man-advantage.
Seconds after the Panthers killed off the remaining seconds left on the Canes’ power play, the Panthers struggled to clear the puck out of their zone which ultimately led to a goal scored by Canes #20 Sebastian Aho. The Panthers’ head coach, Paul Maurice, quickly called a timeout to fully review the goal and challenged it for offside. Upon further review, the score reverted back to 3-0 in the Panthers’ favor after the Canes goal was waved off. The remainder of the second period remained scoreless until #9 Sam Bennett made it a 4-0 game for the Panthers with thirty-nine seconds left in the period.
The Canes made a goaltender change at the start of the third period with #52 Pyotr Kochetkov taking over for #31 Andersen. Although the Canes hoped to start the third period strong, they continued to struggle on the power play and to maintain puck possession throughout the remainder of the game. The Panthers were able to extend their lead on the man-advantage with the last goal of the game tipped in by #16 C. Aleksander Barkov (5-0). In the end, Panthers’ impressive performance in net secured his first shutout of the 2025 Eastern Conference Final and gave the Canes a 2-0 series lead.
The standout players
Florida Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltender: #31 Frederik Andersen initially started out in net and had a save percentage of 0.750% after he saved 12 out of 14 shots on goal before #52 Pyotr Kochetkov took over at the start of the third period. #52 Kochetkov ended the game with save percentage of 0.800% after he saved 4 out of 5 shots on goal
Stats
The Panthers outshot the Canes (21 SOG vs. 17 SOG)
The Panthers delivered more hits than the Canes (56 hits vs. 42 hits)
The Canes won more faceoffs than the Panthers (51.9% vs. 48.1%)
The Panthers had a higher power play success rate than the Canes (100 PP% vs. 0PP%)
SUMMARY: The Panthers’ physicality, puck possession maintenance, and overall scoring abilities on their chances and main-advantages helped them to secure their 5-0 lead during this game. This shutout would not have been possible without the remarkable goaltending performance by #72 Sergei Bobrovsky who recorded his third shutout of the 2010 NHL postseason.
Upcoming Games
GAME 3
When: May 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Amerant Bank Arena
Watch: TNT, truTV, Max, SN, CBC, TVAS
GAME 4
When: May 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Amerant Bank Arena
Watch: TNT, truTV, Max, SN, CBC, TVAS
NOTE: Games 5-7 will be scheduled if necessary
GAME 5
When: May 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Lenovo Center
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, Max
GAME 6
When: May 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Amerant Bank Arena
Watch: TNT, truTV, Max, SN, CBC, TVAS
GAME 7
When: May 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST
Where: Lenovo Center
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, Max
The Panthers lead 2-0 in ECF of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes
Who do you think is going to win Game 3?
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