The Carolina Hurricanes capped off their regular-season series against the Florida Panthers with a hard-fought 3-1 win on Thursday night. Jaccob Slavin delivered the decisive blow late in the third period, snapping a 1-1 tie and giving the Hurricanes a much-needed victory over their division rivals.
Florida’s Anton Lundell tied the game early in the second period, but Slavin responded with a go-ahead goal with just under seven minutes left in regulation. Slavin’s shot, which followed a controversial sequence in front of the Panthers’ net, beat goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who argued unsuccessfully for a crease violation. Referees upheld the goal, citing Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk’s role in impeding Jesperi Kotkaniemi from leaving the crease after a collision with Bobrovsky.
Slavin’s strong night didn’t end there. In addition to his game-winner, he also notched an assist, showcasing his two-way prowess.
Martin Necas sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, while Brent Burns opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the game. Burns’ shot deflected off Florida captain Aleksander Barkov and found the back of the net, giving Carolina an early advantage.
Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov was a stabilizing force for the Hurricanes, stopping 26 shots, including several key saves to thwart Florida’s offense. His performance ensured Carolina stayed competitive despite missed opportunities to extend their lead early.
Despite the loss, Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding for Florida, making 37 saves and keeping the Panthers within striking distance throughout the game. The veteran goaltender was visibly frustrated after Slavin’s goal, which highlighted a chaotic sequence in front of the net.
Carolina dominated the first period with 16 shots on goal but couldn’t convert their chances into a larger lead. However, timely defense and Kochetkov’s clutch saves kept them in control.
Florida struggled to generate offense in crucial moments, squandering opportunities to support Bobrovsky’s stellar outing.
Bobrovsky played his 269th career game for the Panthers, the second-most all-time for a Florida goaltender. Florida had swept a home-and-home series earlier this season, outscoring Carolina 12-3 in those matchups.
The Hurricanes return home to face the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, while the Panthers host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Carolina’s victory snapped Florida’s recent dominance in the season series and showed the Hurricanes’ resilience in a critical divisional matchup.
