The Florida Panthers got off on the right foot in the Eastern Conference Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes, blowing the home team out of the water with a 5-2 victory at Lenovo Center. However, Paul Maurice is still making up his mind about his thoughts on the Cats’ performance as he has now walked back his postgame message to Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and the rest of the Panthers.
The Panthers are now 3 wins away from their third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance, and 7 victories shy of back-to-back championships in the NHL. Fans in Sunrise are living the golden age of hockey in Florida, with Maurice’s side looking nearly unstoppable.
Tkachuk, Marchand, and the Panthers marched into a hostile environment in Raleigh and delivered a thunderous statement win over the Hurricanes, who had yet to lose at home in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Still, head coach Paul Maurice wasn’t entirely sold on his team’s performance—though he may be coming around to it now.
“It was better on video than behind the bench,” Maurice said on Tuesday morning, walking back his postgame comment when he admitted he wasn’t too pleased with the Panthers’ outing.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers walks to the ice before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 16, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida
Maurice’s postgame message
Carolina entered Game 1 of the ECF unbeaten at home in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs—Florida won in dominant fashion. The Hurricanes had successfully killed 93.3% of the powerplays they faced—the Panthers scored in 50% of their man-advantage attempts. Still, Maurice didn’t think too highly of the Panthers’ outing.
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Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers: Predictions for Eastern Conference Final of 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
“I didn’t love our game tonight, but I understood it. Significant style change,” Florida coach Paul Maurice had stated after the game, per NHL.com. “Game 1 is that first look at what your game looks like against a completely different opponent. We will have to continue to build that game and get better.”
Bounce back
Despite the gut-wrenching loss on home-ice, Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour had a very different stance on his team’s showing.
“They got the two power-play goals, I think that’s really the difference in the game,” Rod Brind’Amour said. “You’ve got to give them credit. They get a chance, it’s in the net. I didn’t hate our game tonight. It’s going to be hard, it’s going to go back and forth.”
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If the Hurricanes lose in the ECF, should Brind'Amour be replaced?
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The Hurricanes will need to find an immediate answer to the Panthers’ gameplan, which pinned them against the ropes and snuffed out any hope in a lopsided Game 1. Carolina is now 0-13 in Eastern Conference Final games since 2009, having been swept in their last three appearances. After such a deflating performance at home, fans can’t help but fear they’re watching a déjà vu unfold.
