TORONTO, ON - MAY 14: Florida Panthers Center Brad Marchand (63) in warmups prior to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Game 5 between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 14, 2025 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.
(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Brad Marchand given four minutes & 10-minute misconduct
  • Shayne Gostisbehere receives two minutes for roughing
  • Read below for more on why Marchand went after Gostisbehere

Well, it didn’t take long for the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes to reacquaint themselves with one another.

The two teams met two years ago in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, with the Cats sweeping the Canes, and the Panthers pounced on the Hurricanes once again in Game 1 this time around.

The Panthers imposed their will physically against Carolina all game long and held a 4-1 lead midway through the third period when Brad Marchand got into it with Shayne Gostisbehere.

Marchand took a run at Gostisbehere after the puck was gone, and the Hurricanes defenseman took offense. Gostisbehere got the puck back on his stick and saw a chance to move it mid-air up the ice — it just so happened that it went right at Marchand.

What a coincidence, right?

Here’s another look at Marchand going after Gostisbehere.

The Hurricanes got a two-minute power play out of all of that, but it didn’t matter. They did eventually score a second goal later in the third period on the power play, but only after the Panthers got a fifth goal for themselves.

All in all, the Panthers looked like the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and the Hurricanes looked like a team that hasn’t won an Eastern Conference Final game since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. The Cats outclassed the Canes.

Carolina will look to bounce back from this Game 1 defeat later this week. Game 2 between the Panthers and Hurricanes is set for Thursday night with puck drop at 8 p.m. ET.