Three takeaways: Poor start hampers Panthers, controversial game-winning goal not worth challenging

The Florida Panthers found themselves playing from behind, both literally and figuratively, on Thursday night.

Florida welcomed the Carolina Hurricanes to Sunrise and were slapped in the face by the visitors right off the game’s opening shift.

After scoring early, the Hurricanes leaned on their goaltender and made life difficult for Florida’s forwards, limited offensive zone time and taking away time and space on both ends of the ice.

The result was a frustrating night for Florida, coming up short and losing a tight game with a playoff feel 3-1 on home ice.

Let’s get to Thursday’s takeaways:

PANTHERS POOR START

Florida allowed the Hurricanes to score during the first minute of the game, though the goal was a bit of a fluky one.

An outside shot went off the body of Sasha Barkov as he skated by the front of the net, changing the angle of the puck just before it reached Sergei Bobrovsky, making a save nearly impossible.

Then after the goal, Carolina continued to carry play, outshooting the Panthers 14-1 before Florida finally began to offer some pushback.

Things certainly evened out after that, but the damage had been done.

“We weren't ready to play hockey at the start,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “Historically, Carolina will either start fast or have a 10 minute block where they throw an awful lot at the net. They did that, and then when we righted that ship, it was really good hockey game I thought after that. I liked how we played, what we generated, then it was a good game.”

NO POINT IN REVIEWING GWG

Carolina’s game-winning goal during the third period was controversial to say the least.

Even after the puck went in, the play felt like it was at least worth a review.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi was in Bobrovsky’s crease for several seconds after going down on an attempted breakaway, but since Matthew Tkachuk gave him the business and didn’t allow him the opportunity to get up, the referee said the contact with Bob in the crease didn’t matter.

After hearing that message from the referee, Maurice felt any challenge would be futile.

“It was exactly as you saw,” Maurice said. “They went into the goaltender, and that was problem for Sergei to play, but the referee announced his decision at the time he called the goal. He felt that the player had been held in, so there was no point in the challenge.”

STRONG OUTING FOR BOB

He may have allowed a pair of goals, but it’s hard to fault Bobrovsky for either of the pucks that went by him on Thursday.

Bob was absolutely lights out on everything that he was able to see.

He finished the game with 37 saves, including on all seven of the high danger shots Carolina sent his way.

“Bob's a good pro, a good player,” Maurice said. “He's had a lot of nights where he's been the difference for us. Tough one tonight for him, but he played very well, so he gets to come to the ring proud tomorrow. He was prepped, he was ready.”

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