Capitals Surprise Panthers In Game 1

     The Florida Panthers lost to the Washington Capitals 4-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at FLA Live Arena on Tuesday night. The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series 1-0. 

     The Panthers lost the opening contest of a playoff series for the sixth consecutive time. The Cats have not won a Game 1 contest since 1997 against the New York Rangers at Miami Arena. 

     The Cats blew a lead to begin the third period for the first time in 2021-22. They had a 39-0-1 record in the same circumstance during the regular season. 

     Florida opened up the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the National Hockey League. The Panthers and Capitals will play Game 2 on Thursday night. 

     Washington got out in front 1-0 at the 3:48 mark on the power play. Justin Schultz pushed the puck from the low left circle. Anthony Mantha took a close-range shot that was saved. Tom Wilson followed with a snap shot past Sergei Bobrovsky from the slot area.

     Florida answered back with 2:05 left in the first to tie it up 1-1. Sam Bennett skated into the Caps zone and snapped a shot from the high slot by Vitek Vanecek. Radko Gudas and Carter Verhaeghe were credited with assists on the play. 

     The Panthers took a 2-1 lead just 43 seconds into the second period. Brandon Montour relased a wrist shot which was stopped, however Claude Giroux got to the puck and scored with a backhand shot from the left of the crease. Jonathan Huberdeau picked up the secondary assist on the play. 

     In the third period, the Capitals evened it 2-2 at the 8:14 mark. Alex Ovechkin poked-check the puck away from MacKenzie Weegar at the Panthers blue line. Evgeny Kuznetsov skated through the middle of the ice and rifled a snap shot from the low slot. 

     The Caps reclaimed the lead 3-2 with 9:23 remaining in the third. Nicholas Backstrom made a lead pass from the left circle and T.J. Oshie redirected it in from the crease area. 

     The Cats pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 1:30 to go in the frame. It did not work as Lars Eller scored an empty-net goal from inside the Capitals blue line with 39 seconds left to make it 4-2.