Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers have taken Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Florida defeated the New York Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden. That said, the score was nearly 4-0 in favor of the Cats. However, video review overturned a goal scored by Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the third period.
Some may expect Maurice to be upset about this call. But the Panthers bench boss is not upset at all. In fact, he shared with the media on Wednesday night that he has no issues with the goal being overturned. “I thought it was right, because it was the call I would want on Sergei (Bobrovsky). … I wasn't complaining about it,” Maurice said, via The Athletic's Peter Baugh.
In the end, it mattered little. Sergei Bobrovsky saved all 23 shots against him in Game 1. Both Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe scored two points against the Rangers, as well. Florida has now won five consecutive games in the Eastern Conference Finals dating back to last year.
The overturned Panthers goal
Florida had a 1-0 lead in the third period and were controlling play. The Panthers entered their offensive zone looking to make something happened. Things did end up happening. Ekman-Larsson found the puck on his stick and rifled a shot past Igor Shesterkin. However, the Rangers goalie immediately appealed to the officials.
The issue stemmed from a battle in front of Shesterkin. Shesterkin was attempting to play his position when Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg entered the crease. Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren gave him a bit of a shove, and Lomberg made some contact with Shesterkin as the shot came in.
Replay officials determined that Shesterkin could not play his position due to Lomberg's presence. Florida remained with a 1-0 lead. However, they would get the goal back in the third period. Carter Verhaeghe was credited with a goal after Alexis Lafreniere put the put in his own net around the 16-minute mark. And Sam Bennett scored an empty net goal two minutes later to seal the Game 1 victory for his team.
Wins and losses matter
The Panthers now have an all-important first win of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Paul Maurice and his team take this advantage into Game 2, also in New York. But Florida recognizes this is just the first contest in a potential seven-game marathon. It's good to have this win under their belts, but more is required as the series progresses.
Still, there are positives to take away. Especially the performance of Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers netminder had an okay postseason up to this point. That said, the only thing the veteran puck-stopper was concerned with after Game 1 was whether his team won. “In the postseason you don’t think about the goals or anything. There’s only wins and losses. That’s it. You focus on one moment at a time and you don’t think about anything else,” Bobrovsky said, via Panthers senior digital content manager Jameson Olive.
Paul Maurice's team played a fine game on Wednesday night. There is work for them to do, but they have a 1-0 series lead. And they are just seven wins away from their first Stanley Cup. The Panthers and Rangers take the ice again on Friday night for Game 2. It does not matter how they get it done. Florida has just one objective in mind. “At the end of the day, we’re here for wins. That’s it,” Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk said, via Olive.
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