SUNRISE, FL – MAY 3: Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals scores a aim towards Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers in Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the FLA Live Arena on May 3, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI by way of Getty Images)
SUNRISE (CBSMiami) – After a historic common season, the Panthers dropped sport one of many Stanley Cup playoffs.
Washington scored a 4-2 win at FLA Live Arena, the place the Panthers had been 34-7 this season.
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After the sport, gamers stated there is no such thing as a panic and they’ll be taught from the opening loss. It’s the second consecutive yr the Cats misplaced sport one at house within the playoffs.
Ekblad Returns
It was nice to see No. 5 within the Panthers jersey on the ice. He had missed the final six weeks, 20 video games, with damage. Ekblad led the workforce in ice time and seemed terrific contemplating the lengthy layoff.
What Went Wrong
The Panthers surprisingly didn’t have their standard sharpness and vitality. Thanks to an excellent efficiency from goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the Cats led 2-1 within the third interval. But then got here a few psychological errors in managing the puck, giving Washington two nice scoring possibilities that they transformed. It went from a one-goal result in a one-goal deficit in a rush.
Star Shutdown
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Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau definitely didn’t have dangerous video games to open the playoffs. They mixed for eight pictures on aim and at instances had been on the ice collectively as coach Andrew Brunette shuffled issues looking for that spark. But Washington stored each off the scoresheet one thing that didn’t occur fairly often throughout the common season. Expect Barkov and Huberdeau to say themselves extra in sport two.
Comeback Cats
The Panthers weren’t solely the very best comeback workforce within the NHL this season however tied an all-time document for many comeback wins. Time and time once more they cranked up the strain and made groups pay the value. That was not the case in sport one and provides Washington a number of the credit score for that. The Capitals are an skilled playoff workforce and guarded their lead properly.
Don’t Let History Repeat
After shedding sport one final season, the Panthers confronted a practical should win at house in sport two. But Tampa gained that sport as properly and went on to win the collection.
Going down 2-0 with three of the following 4 video games on the highway isn’t a method for fulfillment. Energy, urgency and desperation will all have to be on the forefront of a sport two effort to keep away from that troublesome scenario the workforce confronted final yr.
Fans Didn’t Disappoint
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Nearly 20,000 jammed into the world final night time. They had been there early and had been loud in anticipation of one other high-flying house win. That didn’t materialize and in gorgeous style the Panthers misplaced the sport that they led after two durations. They had been 39-0-1 within the common season with the lead going into the third.