The Florida Panthers are facing more injuries, including one from a grilling accident.

Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad scored two tone-setting first-period goals while Sergei Bobrovsky remained strong in net as the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Tuesday night’s opener of their Eastern Conference final series.

Matthew Tkachuk had two power-play goals and an assist in his first game after a two-month absence and the Florida Panthers opened defense of their Stanley Cup title with a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opener of the teams’ first-round playoff series.

It’s been a long month for Aaron Ekblad.

The NHL playoff race is going into its final few days with both Western Conference wild-card slots still unsettled.

All divisional play through the first two rounds of the playoffs made a major impact at the NHL trade deadline.

The Washington Capitals have made a blockbuster deal to acquire Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL's trade deadline.