Reigning Stanley Cup champ Florida Panthers beat Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Eastern final opener

— The reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers wasted no time snatching home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference final.
May 21, 2026, 12:05 pm - AP
123T
Panthers2125
Hurricanes1012
1st PeriodFLACAR
8:30Carter Verhaeghe (5) (Power Play)
Assists: Aleksander Barkov (8), Matthew Tkachuk (7)
10
12:29Aaron Ekblad (3)
Assists: Evan Rodrigues (5)
20
19:44Sebastian Aho (4)
Assists: Seth Jarvis (7), Andrei Svechnikov (2)
21
2nd PeriodFLACAR
3:33A.J. Greer (2)
Assists: Niko Mikkola (1), Tomas Nosek (2)
31
3rd PeriodFLACAR
6:08Sam Bennett (7) (Power Play)
Assists: Evan Rodrigues (6), Carter Verhaeghe (5)
41
14:55Eetu Luostarinen (4)
Assists: Tomas Nosek (3), Gustav Forsling (3)
51
16:19Jackson Blake (3) (Power Play)
Assists: Seth Jarvis (8), Shayne Gostisbehere (5)
52

Shot Chart

NHL Shot Chart
  • Jack Roslovic hit Eetu Luostarinen
  • Jordan Staal Deflected Wide Left
  • William Carrier hit Dmitry Kulikov
  • Jaccob Slavin hit Sam Reinhart
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Sam Bennett
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi hit Tomas Nosek
  • Eric Robinson hit Aaron Ekblad
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Logan Stankoven hit Nate Schmidt
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • William Carrier hit Sam Reinhart
  • Dmitry Orlov hit Aleksander Barkov
  • Jordan Martinook hit Evan Rodrigues
  • Seth Jones shot blocked by Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Dmitry Orlov
  • Andrei Svechnikov hit Carter Verhaeghe
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Sebastian Aho Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Seth Jarvis Slap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sebastian Aho hit Anton Lundell
  • Seth Jarvis hit Aaron Ekblad
  • Sebastian Aho Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Logan Stankoven Batted saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sebastian Aho Roughing against Anton Lundell
  • Seth Jones shot blocked by Brent Burns
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Aleksander Barkov shot blocked by Jaccob Slavin
  • Giveaway by Dmitry Orlov
  • Taylor Hall hit Anton Lundell
  • Dmitry Orlov hit Tomas Nosek
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • Jordan Staal hit Dmitry Kulikov
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Eetu Luostarinen
  • Giveaway by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Logan Stankoven Tip-In Wide Right
  • Scott Morrow Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Seth Jarvis Snap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Tomas Nosek shot blocked by Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Giveaway by Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Jordan Martinook hit Carter Verhaeghe
  • William Carrier Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Carter Verhaeghe shot blocked by William Carrier
  • Sebastian Aho hit Matthew Tkachuk
  • Sebastian Aho Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Seth Jarvis Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Andrei Svechnikov hit Jonah Gadjovich
  • Dmitry Orlov Snap Shot Wide Left
  • William Carrier hit Seth Jones
  • Jordan Staal hit Aleksander Barkov
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Sam Bennett
  • Gustav Forsling shot blocked by Sebastian Aho
  • Brent Burns Wrist Shot Wide Left
  • Eric Robinson hit Dmitry Kulikov
  • Shayne Gostisbehere hit Evan Rodrigues
  • Giveaway by Andrei Svechnikov
  • Takeaway by Sean Walker
  • Sebastian Aho Goal (4) Deflected, assists: Seth Jarvis (7), Andrei Svechnikov (2)
  • Taylor Hall hit Seth Jones
  • Giveaway by William Carrier
  • Giveaway by Taylor Hall
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Sam Bennett
  • Sam Bennett shot blocked by Sebastian Aho
  • Andrei Svechnikov hit Matthew Tkachuk
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • William Carrier Tip-In Wide Left
  • Jordan Staal hit Sam Reinhart
  • Jordan Martinook hit Aleksander Barkov
  • Jackson Blake Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Sean Walker Wrist Shot Off Crossbar
  • Sean Walker Snap Shot High and Wide Right
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Jordan Staal hit Aleksander Barkov
  • Giveaway by Jordan Martinook
  • Gustav Forsling shot blocked by Jordan Martinook
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Carter Verhaeghe
  • Andrei Svechnikov hit Seth Jones
  • Sebastian Aho Snap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Tomas Nosek
  • Brad Marchand shot blocked by Jaccob Slavin
  • Brad Marchand shot blocked by Taylor Hall
  • Takeaway by Logan Stankoven
  • Jack Roslovic Snap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jordan Staal Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Andrei Svechnikov hit Evan Rodrigues
  • Andrei Svechnikov High-sticking against Nate Schmidt
  • Seth Jones shot blocked by Jordan Martinook
  • Giveaway by Sebastian Aho
  • Takeaway by Sebastian Aho
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Bennett
  • Brad Marchand shot blocked by Jaccob Slavin
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Jackson Blake Tip-In Wide Right
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Tomas Nosek
  • Seth Jarvis Tip-In Above Crossbar
  • Andrei Svechnikov Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Taylor Hall Slap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Bennett
  • Dmitry Orlov Slap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jordan Staal hit Carter Verhaeghe
  • Jack Roslovic hit Nate Schmidt
  • William Carrier hit Sam Reinhart
  • Jordan Martinook hit Niko Mikkola
  • William Carrier hit Seth Jones
  • Jordan Martinook Backhand Wide Right
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Scott Morrow Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Taylor Hall hit Gustav Forsling
  • Giveaway by Scott Morrow
  • Shayne Gostisbehere hit Niko Mikkola
  • Sean Walker Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sean Walker Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sean Walker hit Evan Rodrigues
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Sam Reinhart
  • Brent Burns Snap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jordan Staal hit Aleksander Barkov
  • Aleksander Barkov shot blocked by Jordan Martinook
  • Takeaway by Taylor Hall
  • Taylor Hall Wrist Shot Wide Left
  • Jack Roslovic Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Logan Stankoven Tip-In Wide Right
  • Brent Burns Slap Shot Short
  • Andrei Svechnikov Tip-In Wide Left
  • Sebastian Aho Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Tomas Nosek
  • Takeaway by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Aaron Ekblad shot blocked by William Carrier
  • Giveaway by Scott Morrow
  • Eetu Luostarinen shot blocked by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Sam Bennett
  • Scott Morrow Delaying Game - Puck over glass
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • Brent Burns hit Seth Jones
  • Jackson Blake Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jackson Blake Wrist Shot Wide Left
  • Giveaway by Jackson Blake
  • Jordan Staal hit Dmitry Kulikov
  • Jordan Staal hit Aleksander Barkov
  • William Carrier hit Dmitry Kulikov
  • Jaccob Slavin Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Gustav Forsling shot blocked by Seth Jarvis
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Roughing against Brad Marchand
  • Giveaway by Sean Walker
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Jaccob Slavin Snap Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jordan Staal hit Seth Jones
  • Jonah Gadjovich shot blocked by Brent Burns
  • Taylor Hall hit Dmitry Kulikov
  • Taylor Hall hit Eetu Luostarinen
  • Dmitry Orlov Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Jaccob Slavin Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jaccob Slavin Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Sebastian Aho hit Aaron Ekblad
  • Sebastian Aho hit Sam Bennett
  • Shayne Gostisbehere hit Tomas Nosek
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Eric Robinson Backhand saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Tomas Nosek
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Wrist Shot Above Crossbar
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Tomas Nosek
  • Takeaway by Scott Morrow
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Slap Shot Wide Right
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Anton Lundell
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Wrist Shot Above Crossbar
  • Seth Jarvis hit A.J. Greer
  • Jackson Blake Goal (3) Wrist Shot, assists: Seth Jarvis (8), Shayne Gostisbehere (5)
  • Jordan Staal hit Nate Schmidt
  • Sean Walker Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Aleksander Barkov
  • Sebastian Aho Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Seth Jarvis Deflected saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jaccob Slavin Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Tomas Nosek
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Scott Morrow Wrist Shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Takeaway by Scott Morrow
  • Takeaway by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Brad Marchand hit Sean Walker
  • Off-side
  • Anton Lundell faceoff won against Jack Roslovic
  • Anton Lundell hit Taylor Hall
  • Brad Marchand hit Logan Stankoven
  • Aleksander Barkov Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Sam Bennett hit Brent Burns
  • Puck in Benches
  • Takeaway by Niko Mikkola
  • Off-side
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • A.J. Greer Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Aaron Ekblad hit Eric Robinson
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Off-side
  • Brad Marchand hit Taylor Hall
  • Giveaway by Seth Jones
  • Seth Jones hit Seth Jarvis
  • Off-side
  • Icing
  • Sam Bennett faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Gustav Forsling Slap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Sam Bennett faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Carter Verhaeghe Tip-In High and Wide Left
  • Sam Bennett Hooking against Jaccob Slavin
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Anton Lundell
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Puck in Netting
  • Icing
  • Goalie Puck Frozen - played from beyond center
  • Jaccob Slavin shot blocked by Aleksander Barkov
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Carter Verhaeghe Goal (5) Backhand, assists: Aleksander Barkov (8), Matthew Tkachuk (7)
  • Taylor Hall shot blocked by Anton Lundell
  • A.J. Greer Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Takeaway by Niko Mikkola
  • Giveaway by Seth Jones
  • Off-side
  • Brent Burns shot blocked by Nate Schmidt
  • Giveaway by Evan Rodrigues
  • Seth Jones hit Sebastian Aho
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Shayne Gostisbehere shot blocked by Gustav Forsling
  • Puck in Netting
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Jack Roslovic
  • A.J. Greer hit Taylor Hall
  • Scott Morrow shot blocked by Tomas Nosek
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Scott Morrow
  • Aaron Ekblad Goal (3) Snap Shot, assists: Evan Rodrigues (5)
  • Sam Bennett hit Sebastian Aho
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Giveaway by Eetu Luostarinen
  • Off-side
  • Tomas Nosek Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Aleksander Barkov hit Jordan Martinook
  • Carter Verhaeghe hit Brent Burns
  • Matthew Tkachuk hit Jaccob Slavin
  • Sam Bennett hit Sean Walker
  • Sam Bennett hit Dmitry Orlov
  • Eetu Luostarinen hit Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Eetu Luostarinen
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Sam Reinhart faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Seth Jones Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Eetu Luostarinen Tip-In saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Sam Reinhart hit Jordan Martinook
  • Niko Mikkola hit Jordan Staal
  • Nate Schmidt hit Logan Stankoven
  • Anton Lundell Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Eetu Luostarinen Snap Shot Hit Right Post
  • Injury - Player
  • Icing
  • Sam Bennett faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Sam Bennett Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Giveaway by Aleksander Barkov
  • Dmitry Kulikov Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Giveaway by Aleksander Barkov
  • A.J. Greer Goal (2) Snap Shot, assists: Niko Mikkola (1), Tomas Nosek (2)
  • Icing
  • Dmitry Orlov shot blocked by Anton Lundell
  • Giveaway by Anton Lundell
  • Sean Walker shot blocked by Eetu Luostarinen
  • Puck in Benches
  • Aaron Ekblad Slap Shot Wide Left
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Sam Bennett Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Icing
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Nate Schmidt Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • A.J. Greer Backhand saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Jonah Gadjovich Backhand saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Gustav Forsling hit Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Dmitry Kulikov hit Eric Robinson
  • Sean Walker shot blocked by Eetu Luostarinen
  • Puck Frozen - Skater
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Sam Reinhart hit Dmitry Orlov
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Giveaway by Carter Verhaeghe
  • Sam Bennett Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Brad Marchand Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Gustav Forsling Cross-checking against Andrei Svechnikov
  • On-Ice Official
  • Puck in Netting
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Andrei Svechnikov shot blocked by Eetu Luostarinen
  • Dmitry Kulikov hit Seth Jarvis
  • Andrei Svechnikov shot blocked by Dmitry Kulikov
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Icing
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Sam Bennett faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Giveaway by Nate Schmidt
  • Matthew Tkachuk hit Dmitry Orlov
  • A.J. Greer hit Dmitry Orlov
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Dmitry Orlov shot blocked by Jonah Gadjovich
  • Sean Walker shot blocked by Eetu Luostarinen
  • Puck in Netting
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Aleksander Barkov hit Jaccob Slavin
  • Goalie Stopped
  • On-Ice Official
  • Eetu Luostarinen hit Jack Roslovic
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Icing
  • Brent Burns shot blocked by Aleksander Barkov
  • Giveaway by Brad Marchand
  • Niko Mikkola hit Seth Jarvis
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Scott Morrow
  • Sam Reinhart Tip-In Above Crossbar
  • Icing
  • Puck in Penalty Benches
  • Sam Bennett Tip-In Wide Right
  • Sam Bennett Goal (7) Snap Shot, assists: Evan Rodrigues (6), Carter Verhaeghe (5)
  • Off-side
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Aaron Ekblad hit Seth Jarvis
  • Icing
  • Anton Lundell faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Brad Marchand hit Sebastian Aho
  • Eetu Luostarinen hit Sean Walker
  • Brad Marchand Roughing against Shayne Gostisbehere served by Matthew Tkachuk
  • Brad Marchand Roughing against Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Brad Marchand Misconduct
  • Aleksander Barkov faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Aaron Ekblad
  • Evan Rodrigues Backhand saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Sam Bennett hit Jordan Staal
  • Matthew Tkachuk hit Jaccob Slavin
  • A.J. Greer hit Andrei Svechnikov
  • Aleksander Barkov Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Evan Rodrigues hit Jaccob Slavin
  • Jordan Staal shot blocked by Dmitry Kulikov
  • Niko Mikkola hit Jordan Staal
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Dmitry Orlov
  • Jaccob Slavin shot blocked by A.J. Greer
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Dmitry Orlov
  • Dmitry Orlov shot blocked by Jonah Gadjovich
  • Matthew Tkachuk hit Jaccob Slavin
  • Sam Bennett Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Jack Roslovic
  • Eetu Luostarinen Goal (4) Snap Shot, assists: Tomas Nosek (3), Gustav Forsling (3)
  • Hand Pass
  • Eetu Luostarinen hit Eric Robinson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Scott Morrow
  • Jonah Gadjovich Roughing against Scott Morrow
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Sebastian Aho shot blocked by Gustav Forsling
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Sebastian Aho shot blocked by Seth Jones
  • Jonah Gadjovich hit Logan Stankoven
  • Seth Jones hit Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Jaccob Slavin shot blocked by Tomas Nosek
  • Puck in Netting
  • William Carrier shot blocked by Nate Schmidt
  • William Carrier shot blocked by Tomas Nosek
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Tomas Nosek faceoff won against Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Jonah Gadjovich Roughing against Shayne Gostisbehere
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