NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Florida Panthers dominated Game 2 in the eastern conference final and beat Carolina Hurricanes 5-0 at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.
Jordan Staal, the captain of the hurricanes, offered a blunt assessment of how the game went.
“An Acik,” Staal told Walt Ruff.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
Carolina Hurricanes Spider Jordan Staal in the first period against Florida Panthers in Game 2 in the eastern conference final of the 2025 Stanley Cup playing game in the Lenovo Center 22 May 2025. (James Guillor/Imag- Pictures)
Hurricanes’ loss was their 14. Just in a conference final dating back to sweeps in 2009, 2019 and 2023 round with Panthers.
“I think we’re all a little lost,” said Hurricanes tip Taylor Hall.
At one point fans started singing, “Shoot the puck! Shoot the puck!” The hurricanes only succeeded 17 shots on the target of the loss.
Stars, Oilers players Brawl as Games 1 of their Stanley Cup -Fully Game Matchup Ends
Florida Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov, Right, celebrates his goal with Matthew Tkachuk (19) as Carolina Hurricanes goalkeeper Pyotr Kochetkov (52) looks at during the third period in Game 2 in the eastern conference final in Raleigh, NC, Thursday 22 May 2025. (AP Photo/Karl Deblaker)
“This game is mentally,” said Staal. “I mean, it’s about the brain and your focus and the thoughts that can creep in. It must be the thoughts we have thought all year and it plays our games and focuses on our shifts and our battles and does what we do.
“When you let these thoughts come in, it never looks good. I think we have to believe in the group and what we have and what we have done all year and go steal one in play 3.”
Florida Panthers ‘Brad Marchand (63) takes a loose puck away from Carolina Hurricanes’ Jack Roslovic (96) in the first period in Game 2 in the NHLS Eastern Conference Final in Raleigh, NC, Thursday 22 May 2025. (AP Photo/Karl Deblaker)
Carolina’s last conference Finnish victory was in Game 7 in 2006 against Buffalo during the franchise’s Lone Cup title. The current head coach Rod Brind’amor was the captain of the team that scored the winner of the third period against Buffalo Sabres.
Now Brind’amor hopes to keep a turn in Game 3, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. 20 a Saturday.
