Outside of Marc Staal I wouldn't say their blueline is slow. Montour and Forsling are excellent skaters, Ekblad, Gudas and Mahura aren't exactly slouches. Although as a whole Carolina gets the edge. Boston did a pretty good job (in the stretches I watched) at giving them no time and space in their own zone.

I think both teams are pretty evenly matched. Forward talent goes to Florida. I would say forward group v forward group, it's a draw. Canes get the win on defense. Freddy has been very good, but I would say goaltending goes to Florida cause Bob I think just has a higher ceiling and he's been pretty lights out.

Special teams goes to Carolina. Ability to play on the road goes to Florida. Canes have home ice and a much harder barn to play in.

Florida faired really well against two teams with several weapons on offense. Canes are depleted in that regard cause of Svech and possibly Teuvo, they excel at scoring by committee.

Cage match for sure

I wouldn't say forwards go to Florida, Carolina has shown they can get something out of every forward, Florida hasn't, Canes are getting Teuvo back too apparently

I didn't say forwards go to Florida. I said it's a draw. I said forward talent goes to Florida. Barkov, Tkachuk, Reinhart, Verhaeghe to Aho, Necas, Teravainen

Duclair/Bennett probably to KK

Lundell and Luostarinen comparable to Jarvis and Drury.

Staal, Martinook, Fast, Noesen, Stepan, Stastny, MacEachern washes Cousins, Staal, Dalpe, Lomberg, White

I think Florida has the higher end talent up front, but Carolina easily has the depth, along with the point you mentioned. That's why I think you could make the argument either way for who has the advantage forward wise.

Canes in 6

Stars in 7

Is this the most brothers to feature in one playoff series?

Canes in 4
Stars in 6

Florida in 7
Dallas in 7

5 on 3 in the ECF. Two brutal calls

What game are you watching? Blatant trip by Staal and a late crosscheck by Ekblad, while it was soft and insult to injury for Florida, that was still a situation where Ekblad didn't really need to clear the crease, the puck was behind the net. They nearly got out of that kill alive because of great coverage and Bob, but Jarvis and his cannon had other plans

If the Ekblad crosscheck on Noesen is a penalty, so is the Pesce crosscheck on Lomberg. Both completely unnecessary but not super forceful.

At least there's consistency

Paul Maurice is a fantastic coach.

@Steven_Stamkos looks like we were both wrong. The Tkachuk line is getting matched by the Kotkaniemi line

Right? Technically you could say it's 2/3rds of Staal's line. Still though, pretty surprised cause Staal is easily the best matchup for Tkachuk on Carolina forward wise, regardless of who Jordan's wingers are. On the road would make sense. No need to chase matchups all game, but at home out the gate I'm pretty surprised. It's working out well so far though and I think Rod is more focused on Burns/Slavin getting it

Montour had the game on his stick!

I don't know if that would have stood a review, it may have gone out of play, explaining why the entire pile didn't know where the puck was

OT winner prediction for both teams:
FLA - Matthew Tkachuk
CAR - Jack Drury

Jarvis
Duclair.

Give me the clutchest player on each team
Necas
Verhaeghe

Montour or Necas

Looks like a good goal to me

After seeing every goalie interference call this season my guess no goal

Actually, looking at it again, I think the right call was made.

Might be the worst call in NHL history

I think Freddie got lucky there. He was way over committing to his right.

Umm if it's goalie interference, where's the penalty? I agree the goal should be waved off, but it's a penalty, as well.