Panthers Crushed by Hurricanes 9-1 After White House Visit
The Florida Panthers suffered a significant defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes, losing 9-1 at the Lenovo Center on Friday night. This marked the Panthers’ highest goal concession of the season.
Notable Performances
The Hurricanes showcased a powerful offense. Nikolaj Ehlers led the team with a hat trick and an assist, marking his first hat trick since joining the Hurricanes and the sixth of his NHL career. Additional goals came from:
- Mark Jankowski
- Alexander Nikishin
- Andrei Svechnikov
- Taylor Hall
- Eric Robinson
Andrei Svechnikov achieved a milestone by scoring his 400th career point in the NHL during a power play.
Poor Performance from the Panthers
The Panthers struggled offensively. They managed only three shots in the first period. Their sole goal came from Uvis Balinskis, who scored with a slap shot just 1:19 into the second period. Following this, Carolina scored eight unanswered goals, with six of them happening in the third period.
Goaltender Sergei Borovsky didn’t have a strong showing, saving just 26 of 35 shots, resulting in a save percentage of .743. Notably, he allowed 4.41 goals above expected, according to Money Puck, and every player on the Panthers finished with a negative plus-minus rating.
White House Visit
The Panthers’ disappointing performance came right after their visit to the White House on Thursday. During this visit, players presented President Donald Trump with a unique no. 47 Panthers jersey, a Stanley Cup championship ring, and a golden stick.
Matthew Tkachuk expressed pride in being an American and emphasized the honor of meeting President Trump. In his remarks, Trump praised the Panthers, highlighting their impressive playoff run and the fact that they denied Canada a Stanley Cup victory for the 32nd consecutive year.
Upcoming Games
This loss was just the first in a back-to-back weekend series for the Panthers. They are set to face the Washington Capitals on Saturday night at Capital One Arena.
