Florida scored twice on the power play and made the most of every bounce in a 5–2 win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday night to take Game 1 in Raleigh. Sergei Bobrovsky was sharp with 31 saves, and Carter Verhaeghe led the way with a goal and an assist.

“I thought our guys did a great job with the skating, with the whole game,” Bobrovsky said. “It was a complete game. We’re happy with the win. It’s important to get the first one.”

Verhaeghe opened the scoring at 8:30 of the first period on the power play, walking in from the right post and lifting a backhander over Frederik Andersen’s shoulder. Aaron Ekblad followed up a few minutes later, burying a quick snap shot off a turnover forced by Evan Rodrigues behind the net.

The Canes responded late in the first. Seth Jarvis threaded a pass to Sebastian Aho, who redirected it five-hole with his skate to cut the lead to 2–1.

But Florida’s depth kept pressing. A.J. Greer made it 3–1 early in the second after a slick feed from Niko Mikkola. Then, after a delay-of-game penalty by Scott Morrow, Sam Bennett ripped a screened shot from the point past Andersen for Florida’s second power play goal of the night.

“They got the two power-play goals. I think that’s really the difference in the game,” said Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour. “You’ve got to give them credit. They get a chance, it’s in the net.”

Eetu Luostarinen, facing his former team, made it 5–1 with under six minutes to go, one-timing a pass from Tomáš Nosek. Jackson Blake added a late power play goal for Carolina, but the game was already out of reach.

Despite outshooting Florida 33–20, the Canes had trouble finishing and paid for several defensive miscues. They’ve now lost 13 straight games in the Eastern Final, dating back to 2009.

“It’s very important to get a good start and a lead if you can,” Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, the power play started it off and that got them rolling. We’ve just got to do better.”

The Panthers continue to show why they’re defending champs. They’ve now scored 38 goals in eight road games this postseason, tying the 2022 Avalanche for the most in NHL history.

“We know the recipe and our identity,” Greer said. “When everyone is going, and there’s the commitment to playing a solid Panthers hockey game, it makes it hard for them.”

Game 2 goes Thursday night back in Carolina.