It’s best not to poke the bear.
A controversial play during the second period of Tuesday’s Eastern Conference Final Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes will likely be a hot topic ahead of Game 2.
With the Panthers leading 3-1 during the second period, Andrei Svechnikov took a shot from the left circle that was stopped and covered by Sergei Bobrovsky.
Svhechnikov crashed the net, which is perfectly fine, but it’s what he did after that had Panthers players quite upset.
Replay shows Svechnikov appear to look at Bobrovsky and skate through the crease, hitting Bob directly in the head with his upper leg.
Sure looks like Svechnikov knew exactly what he was doing when he hit Bobrovsky in the head. pic.twitter.com/vKhgm5f73s
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) May 21, 2025
Fortunately for the Panthers, Bobrovsky seemed fine after the hit and continued in the game without issue.
The problem is that this is an incredibly dangerous play, targeting another player’s head, if that is in fact that Svechnikov was trying to do.
Whether or not the NHL Department of Player Safety decides to take a closer look at the play remains to be seen.
Throughout Game 1, Carolina was not shy about playing around Florida’s goal crease.
The Hurricanes haven’t been shy about making contact with Bobrovsky in Game 1 pic.twitter.com/vqoat1wYrw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2025
One thing that can probably be counted on is the Panthers addressing this it in their own way, on the ice, regardless of what the league decides to do.
This is only Game 1, after all.
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Photo caption: May 20, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell (15) defends against Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho (20) during the first period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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