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Carolina Hurricanes Fight Back, Beat Florida Panthers

Originally posted on Florida Hockey Now | Last updated Jan 3, 2025 12:00 AM ET

SUNRISE — Early on Thursday, it looked as if the Florida Panthers celebrated the New Year just a little too hard as they allowed the Carolina Hurricanes to do whatever they liked.

Late in the first, Carolina had a 1-0 lead and a 13-1 shot advantage.

Paul Maurice even had one of his famed tirades on the bench to try and get his guys going.

The Panthers did, eventually, wake up and finally give Sergei Bobrovsky some help.

Just not enough.

Anton Lundell tied the score at 1 early in the second, but the Hurricanes scored a pair in the third and beat the Panthers 3-1.

Carolina scored the game-winning goal with a controversial play with 7:30 remaining.

After Jesperi Kotkaniemi slid into Bobrovsky, Matthew Tkachuk would not allow him up.

Jaccob Slavin scored, the goal stood, and the Panthers did not recover.

NOTES: HURRICANES @ PANTHERS

Bobrovsky was named to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Quarter Century team Thursday. The NHL will announced the Panthers’ 2000-25 team on Friday evening. Bobrovsky won both of his Vezina Trophies while playing for the Blue Jackets.
Speaking of Bobrovsky, he played in his 269th game with the Panthers Thursday putting him in second place in franchise history behind Roberto Luongo (572).
Brent Burns scored his fourth career goal in the opening minute of a game. The only defensemen with more in NHL history are Ray Bourque (9), Larry Murphy (6) and Sandis Ozolinsh (5).
Two linesmen needed medical attention in the third peroiod: Tyson Baker got hit by Jack Roslovic; Tommy Hughes gets hit by puck from Nate Schmidt. Hughes left the game.

HOW THEY SCORED

Hurricanes 1, Panthers 0 (0:35 1st): Brent Burns shot off the halfwall clipped Sasha Barkov in front of the net and went over the shoulder of Sergei Bobrovsky.
Panthers 1, Hurricanes 1 (2:17 2nd): Evan Rodrigues gets the puck up along the end boards, feeds Jesper Boqvist who slips it to a wide-open Anton Lundell in the slot.
Hurricanes 2, Panthers 1 (12:30 2nd): Jaccob Slavin scores with Bobrovsky down on the ice after Jesperi Kotkaniemi slid into him. The officials ruled there was no goalie interference because Matthew Tkachuk kept Kotkaniemi on the ice when the shot came through.
Hurricanes 3, Panthers 1 (19:32 3rd EN): Martin Necas ends it.