Panthers inch closer to Stanley Cup appearance with Game 3 win over Hurricanes

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Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 photographs for his first profession playoff shutout, Sam Reinhart scored a power-play aim halfway by means of the second interval and the Florida Panthers moved one win away from a most inconceivable journey to the Stanley Cup Last by blanking the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 on Monday evening.

Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett had the assists on the Reinhart aim for Florida, which now leads the Japanese Convention ultimate 3-0. The Panthers haven’t performed for the Stanley Cup since 1996, however can clinch a visit to the title spherical with a win in Recreation 4 on Wednesday.

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Sam Reinart scores

Florida Panthers heart Sam Reinhart (13) reacts after scoring a aim in the course of the second interval of Recreation 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Japanese Convention finals towards the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, Could 22, 2023, in Dawn, Fla.  (AP Photograph/Lynne Sladky)

This marks the 205th time {that a} group has taken a 3-0 collection lead in NHL playoff historical past. Of the primary 204, 200 went on to win the collection. The Panthers are 2-0 when taking the primary three video games of a collection; the Hurricanes are 0-5 when dropping the primary three.

It wasn’t an ideal evening for Florida, nevertheless: Captain Aleksander Barkov left with about 7 minutes left within the first interval with a lower-body harm and didn’t return, although the group listed him as questionable.

Bobrovsky bought the shutout in his 58th playoff begin. He’s now 10-1 in his final 11 appearances and has been virtually good within the final eight video games.

Going again to Recreation 1 of Spherical 2 towards Toronto, Bobrovsky has not allowed greater than two targets in any contest, with 296 saves on 309 photographs.

Frederik Andersen stopped 16 photographs for Carolina. The Hurricanes pulled him with 3:22 left, determined for the tying aim, barely even managed to check Bobrovsky the remainder of the best way.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS TAKE COMMANDING SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN OVER STARS

Sergei Bobrovsky celebrates

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) is congratulated by defenseman Josh Mahura (28) and heart Eric Staal (12) after the Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 in Recreation 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Japanese Convention finals, Monday, Could 22, 2023, in Dawn, Fla.  (AP Photograph/Wilfredo Lee)

It was the primary East ultimate recreation within the Panthers’ present area — the franchise’s solely different time going this deep into the playoffs was 1996, when it performed in Miami at a constructing that was demolished way back.

It additionally probably was the primary time that they performed with the Wanamaker Trophy in attendance. Newly topped PGA champion Brooks Koepka — a South Florida native and Panthers fan — placed on a jersey and introduced the massive silver cup to the sport.

The group roared once they noticed him displaying the trophy he gained Sunday. After all, there’s one other silver trophy that Panthers followers would favor seeing somebody of their jersey hoisting earlier than too lengthy. And the eighth-seeded Panthers are solely 5 wins away now, tantalizingly near the journey to the ultimate – a visit that few may have seen coming after barely making the playoffs after which having to get previous a record-setting Boston group in Spherical 1 and Toronto in Spherical 2.

A pair of time beyond regulation wins in Carolina, with Tkachuk getting the winner each nights, and the win Monday now have Florida getting ready to June hockey.

Aaron Ekblad crashes

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) and Carolina Hurricanes heart Jack Drury (18) go for the puck in the course of the first interval of Recreation 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Japanese Convention finals, Monday, Could 22, 2023, in Dawn, Fla.  (AP Photograph/Lynne Sladky)

AROUND THE RINK

Jeff Conine, who gained two World Collection titles with the then-Florida Marlins, beat the drum to get the group going simply earlier than recreation time. … It was the Panthers’ 98th recreation of the season. This would be the second season through which Florida has greater than 100 video games; probably the most was 104 within the 1995-96 season that ended within the Stanley Cup Last. … Carolina was shut out for the seventh time this season, with two of these coming at Florida. The Hurricanes misplaced 3-0 in Dawn on Nov. 9.

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CLOSE HOCKEY

There was 261 minutes, 38 seconds of hockey on this collection — simply over 13 intervals, due to all of the overtimes — and neither group has led by a couple of aim at any time.

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