Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) shoots the puck on Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Hurricanes visibly frustrated by Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers

By Tommy Fradenburg | Last updated 5/23/23

The 2023 Eastern Conference Final has been infuriating for the Carolina Hurricanes. The major reason why is Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

In Game 1, Bobrovsky made 63 saves on 65 shots, standing firm between the pipes until teammate Matthew Tkachuk finally scored just before the end of a fourth overtime period.

In Game 2, Carolina scored first once again and even appeared to take a 2-0 lead in the first period before an offsides call wiped off the goal. The rest of the game Bobrovsky stood on his head once again, finishing with 37 saves on 38 shots and, once again, Tkachuk slotted a winner home in overtime.

So when the Hurricanes left the ice following a Game 3 shutout Monday by "Bob," Carolina center Jesperi Kotkaniemi took out his displeasure on his hockey stick.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi was HEATED after the Canes Game 3 loss

Carolina forwards have yet to score a 5v5 goal in the Eastern Conference Final pic.twitter.com/asr8eXm0Yg
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 23, 2023

Kotkaniemi's outburst represents the frustration of an entire organization that, despite being down two key players in Max Pacioretty and Andrei Svechnikov, averaged more than 3.5 goals per game in the playoffs before the ECF but has managed just three goals total through the first three games.

Even Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour admitted to Sportsnet in his postgame news conference following Game 3 that "we can't do much more" against the 34-year-old Russian goalie.

"We like how we're playing, clearly," he said. "We've got to find a way to put one in."

Frustration has become the norm for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup semifinal round dating to 2009, as they have lost 11 straight games at this stage of the competition.

Carolina will attempt to stave off elimination when it plays the Panthers in Game 4 on Wednesday night at Florida.

More must-reads: