The Florida Panthers showed their championship mettle from last year's run to the Stanley Cup by taking control early in their 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes to open the Eastern Conference final Tuesday night.

The Florida Panthers took Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals 5-2 based off a first period where they were able to get into the Hurricanes’ heads, a second period that Carolina started too late, and a third period where chasing the game cost them and they chose to try and make a mark physically against Florida and it bit them.