Sergei Bobrovsky shines, Panthers take Eastern Conference final Game 1 from Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Florida coach Paul Maurice fielded a question about Sergei Bobrovsky lifting weights before Game 1. The Panthers coach said he was not in a position to critique his goalie’s fitness routine.

“It works for him,” Maurice said. “Clearly (he is) in much better shape than I am, so I don’t think I should judge him.”

Bobrovsky was in nearly perfect shape Tuesday night, holding the Carolina Hurricanes to two goals (one of them coming late in the game) and making several quality saves in the Panthers’ 5-2 win over the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final at the Lenovo Center.

Bobrovsky had 31 saves, outdueling Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen, who entered the series as the league’s best playoff goalie. It was the first playoff game this postseason where Andersen surrendered five goals.

Game 1 started with hard hits, as Panthers forward Sam Reinhart and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov took big hits early. Carolina center Sebastian Aho went to the penalty box for roughing, allowing Florida to get on the board.

Center Aleksander Barkov delivered the puck to Carter Vergaheghe in front of Andersen, and he backhanded it over the goalie’s shoulder for the series’ first goal.

The Panthers pushed their lead to 2-0 after a Carolina turnover allowed Aaron Ekblad to snipe a shot from the left faceoff circle with 7:31 left in the first period.

The Hurricanes got their first goal in the final minute of the first period. Aho deflected a shot from Seth Jarvis between Bobrovsky’s legs.

Defenseman Niko Mikkola and fourth-line forward A.J. Greer combined for the Panthers’ third goal. Mikkola got the puck past the last Carolina defender, and Greer slotted a shot over Andersen’s right shoulder to put Florida ahead 3-1.

Sam Bennett scored the Panthers’ second power-play goal of the night with 13:52 left in the third period, solidifying Florida’s lead. Bennett leads the Panthers with seven playoff goals. Eetu Luostarinen added a fifth goal with about five minutes left in the game.

Hurricanes winger Jackson Blake added a later power-play goal, but it was too late to spark a Carolina rally.

This story will be updated.