Let’s watch some playoff hockey!
Scroll down to the comments to discuss Monday night’s game.
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers – 7 p.m. CT (TNT)
Florida leads the series 2-0
Coming into this series we knew the margin would be close but it’s literally been as close as it can possibly get so far, with both of the first two games going to overtime (and Florida winning both).
If the Hurricanes are going to get back into this series they’ll need to figure it out fast, the problem is it’s the same question that’s been plaguing them for the last five seasons or so. Carolina is content to out possess you, forecheck you to death, wait for you to make a mistake, and then capitalize on it. That works against the majority of the NHL but whenever they run into a truly elite team (which make no mistake, the Panthers are playing like right now) and they have to create their own scoring they wind up on the golf course.
As for Florida, the main question facing them right now may just be who’s their front runner for the Conn Smythe – Sergei Bobrovsky or Matthew Tkachuk. Bobrovsky has made an even 100 saves with a 1.50 GAA and a .972 save percentage through the first two games. Meanwhile Tkachuk has 18 points in the playoffs so far and scored the GWG in both of the last two overtime victories, doing his best Mike Brown tribute in celebration after.