The Hurricanes may be a fine field hockey machine, but the Panthers seem to be unstoppable at the moment. Matthew Tkachuk is on fire, Sergei Bobrovsky is in a trance, and the rest of the group just has to keep up. One goal was all the Bob needed to lead his team to victory.
In the first half, the opponents studied each other, trying to find the flaw that would tip the debate in their favor. Unfortunately, nothing really worked, as the first half ended with the score still 0-0.
Turned up the heat π‘ pic.twitter.com/nx4pV0C9db
– Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 23, 2023
Not much to note about this period other than the absence of Aleksander Barkov for the last 7 minutes.
After one period, the Panthers and Hurricanes tied 0-0.
Shots on goal are 9-7 Florida, which came on late in the period.
Aleksander Barkov missed the last seven minutes or so of the period. No word on him yet.
– Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 23, 2023
And also this Bobrovsky save on Sebastian Aho on a breakaway.
Bob flashes the leather and it was showstopping. π» #StanleyCup
πΊπΈ: @NHL_On_TNT β‘οΈ https://t.co/LaJpv7c3yx #NHLonTNT
π¨π¦: @Sportsnet β‘οΈ https://t.co/uEVY6yXLpz pic.twitter.com/uHk98eiYKI– NHL (@NHL) May 23, 2023
That’s quite the round-up of this period. π
In the second period, Sasha Barkov was still missing.
No Barkov for the Panthers to start the second. Yikes.
– Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) May 23, 2023
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At the time of writing, we have very little information on what is keeping him out of the game. It would appear to be a lower-body injury.
Panthers captain Sasha Barkov left Game 3 during the first period and has not returned.
He’s listed as questionable with a lower-body injury.
The latest (will update as new info comes available): https://t.co/VK90L9cXxc
– David Dwork (@DavidDwork) May 23, 2023
As for the Bob, he’s on top form and, even without a stick, he was unstoppable in the2nd.
No stick? No problem. Sergei Bobrovsky is on it. π« #StanleyCup
πΊπΈ: @NHL_On_TNT β‘οΈ https://t.co/LaJpv7c3yx #NHLonTNT
π¨π¦: @Sportsnet β‘οΈ https://t.co/uEVY6yXLpz pic.twitter.com/oImFEEOy96– NHL (@NHL) May 23, 2023
The first goal of the game came midway through the period when Sam Reinhart accepted a pass from Tkachuk in the slot and scored by turning on himself. It was his 7th of the current series.
Sam Reinhart has the Cats on the board first in Game 3. πΌ pic.twitter.com/NjCyTJeX1t
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 23, 2023
After two periods, the Panthers led 1-0.
Not even 3 minutes into the third period, Bobrovsky’s right post came to the rescue with a magnificent save. Bob’s not just in the zone right now, he’s also lucky!
He also took the opportunity to add his name to the NHL record books.
Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky sets record for the most saves within the first 3 games of a Conference Final or Stanley Cup Semi-Final series (126 & counting)
Previous record-holder was Johnny Bower (125 saves) for Maple Leafs vs Canadiens in the 1960 Stanley Cup Semi-Final.
– Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 23, 2023
Since Stefan Noesen scored for the Hurricanes in Game #1, @FlaPanthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has blocked 106 of 107 shots. That’s an efficiency of .990 @TVASports
– Mathieu BΓ©dard (@MatBedardTva) May 23, 2023
The Hurricanes tried to set the tone in the3rd. Even pulling their goalie, Frederik Andersen, with 3 minutes left in the game, nothing worked and they find themselves today facing elimination and a goalie at the top of his game.
Buckle up folks. π
Watch the final minutes of Game 3 live on Sportsnet! pic.twitter.com/g1dilnS2Tj
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 23, 2023
And if that wasn’t enough, with 2 minutes left, the referees refuse to call a high stick penalty on Shayne Gostisbehere.
Ouch… π³π³ pic.twitter.com/YCE6wZP2gV
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 23, 2023
Despite the final score of 1-0, it was quite a clash between the two teams. The end of the match was nothing short of breathtaking!
Are we heading for a sweep? The answer in two days’ time.
In a gust
– KK wasn’t happy after his team’s loss.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is mad π
(π₯: Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/84EXv71ppP
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 23, 2023
– Renaud Lavoie explains the Panthers’ successes by their change in playing style.
The @FlaPanthers have changed their style of play. Will the Leafs and Oilers ever do so? β¬οΈ https://t.co/QXEEXhiDHX
– Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 23, 2023
– Vitaly Kravtsov, often linked to the Canadiens in rumours, leaves the Canucks to return to Russia to play for Chelyabinsk Traktor.
See this post on Instagram
– A petition is circulating right now to get the giant screens in NHL arenas changed.
The @NHL is up for an achievement award for the Digital Board Ads. Ad’s that have caused symptoms of seizures and many other issues for those with neurological disabilities. Please sign the petition to demand that the NHL fix them. Please. https://t.co/230uU4armz
– Sebastian J (He/Him) βπΏ (@SebJackson90) May 23, 2023
– Bruce Boudreau is a real wrestling fan. Here he is on Raw!
Give this man another head coaching job. Bruce is a rockstar pic.twitter.com/RqyPMPxDzI
– Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) May 23, 2023
– The Coyotes community management team strikes again.
What should I do? -admin pic.twitter.com/nIy5HmxWnZ
– Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) May 23, 2023