By NHL Public Relations

May 20, 2023

Game 2 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final goes tonight after Sergei Bobrovsky and Frederik Andersen battled it out through four overtime periods in Game 1 while Matthew Tkachuk played the role of hero in the sixth-longest contest in NHL history.

Should Florida and Carolina require more than 60 minutes again for Game 2, it would be the eighth Conference Finals/Semifinals series in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to require overtime in each of the first two contests and first since the 1977 Semifinals between Boston and Philadelphia.

* Florida now has its sights set on becoming the sixth lower-seeded team in the past 15 years to take a 2-0 lead in the Conference Finals and would join Washington (2018 at TBL), NY Rangers (2014 at MTL), Boston (2013 at PIT), Los Angeles (2012 at PHX) and Chicago (2010 at SJS). The Bruins, Kings and Blackhawks also skated to 3-0 series leads.

Brent Burns (22-49—71 in 106 GP), with points in three straight games, collected a helper on one of two Hurricanes goals in Game 1 and now sits one assist shy of 50 in his playoff career. He also sits one contest shy of becoming the third defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history with a four-game point streak at age 38 or older (Ray Bourque:6 GP in 2001 w/ COL & Nicklas Lidstrom:4 GP in 2008 w/ DET).

DID YOU KNOW? Thursday’s quadruple-overtime win had a ripple effect on Records.NHL.com, with multiple new entries including the sixth-longest contest in NHL history, Panthers and Hurricanes franchise records for saves in a game as well as Florida’s seventh consecutive road victory. Brandon Montour played a pivotal role in the contest, leading all skaters with 57:56 time on ice which also included 8.96 miles of skating distance.

Florida now has its sights set on becoming the sixth lower-seeded team in the past 15 years to take a 2-0 lead in the Conference Finals and would join Washington (2018 at TBL), NY Rangers (2014 at MTL), Boston (2013 at PIT), Los Angeles (2012 at PHX) and Chicago (2010 at SJS). The Bruins, Kings and Blackhawks also skated to 3-0 series leads.

Matthew Tkachuk has factored on three overtime goals for the Panthers this postseason, one shy of the most by any player in a single playoff year in NHL history. The only players with more: Jarome Iginla (4 in 2004 w/ CGY), Adam Oates (4 in 2003 w/ ANA) and Ray Ferraro (4 in 1993 w/ NYI).

Florida has won seven consecutive road games dating back to Game 2 of the First Round against Boston. The only team with a longer such streak within a single postseason is Los Angeles in 2012 (10-0).

Brent Burns (38 years, 70 days) looks to extend his point streak to four games. Only two defensemen in NHL history have had a playoff point streak of as many games at age 38 or older: Ray Bourque (6 GP in 2001 w/ COL) and Nicklas Lidstrom (4 GP in 2008 w/ DET).

The Hurricanes have scored nine power-play goals this postseason, with two of them coming on Thursday night. The only other playoff years where they recorded at least 10 is 2006 (31) and 2002 (16). 

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 20, 2023, NHL Stats Resources