Sergei Bobrovsky's performance was key in the Florida Panthers' 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He saved 31 of 33 shots, but a knee-to-head collision with Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov raised concerns about a potential injury. Bobrovsky downplayed the contact, stating it was part of playoff intensity. However, concussion expert Chris Nowinski voiced concerns about not evaluating Bobrovsky post-hit. Historically, Bobrovsky has endured similar collisions and remained in games without apparent symptoms.

The Panthers dominated the matchup, marking a strong playoff run with a 6-2 record on the road. Conversely, the Hurricanes faced a disappointing 13th consecutive loss in conference finals.