Hintz sat out the optional morning session, just as he had missed the Stars' 6-1 loss in Game 3 to the Oilers on Sunday because of a lower-body injury. Edmonton leads 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

"Of course you want to go every night, but sometimes you just can't," Hintz, 28, said on Monday. "So, yeah, I don't know how close I (was to playing). But I have played many years (and I) know when it's good and when it's not. I should be good to know that (when) it comes to that decision."

Hintz was a game-time decision for Sunday but didn't play after participating in warmups.

"Heal and get better, and we'll cross our fingers," DeBoer said of playing Hintz on Tuesday. "He'll try it again in warmup and we'll see."

Hintz was injured at 3:46 of the third period of Game 2 on Friday when he was slashed in the left leg by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse. Hintz was in front of the Oilers' net and shoved Nurse, who retaliated by swinging his stick at Hintz's leg. Hintz was on the ice for several minutes before he was helped off and did not return to the game.

Nurse, who was assessed a two-minute penalty for slashing, talked about the incident for the first time on Tuesday.

"I was just backing up," Nurse said. "I got a shot at the back, and I think it's just a natural reaction. It's probably a play that everyone in this room, whether you're a net-front guy or (defenseman), probably happens a dozen to two dozen times in a year, and unfortunately (it) must have got him in a bad spot.

"You don't want to go out there and hurt anyone, but it was just one of those plays that happens every so often."

Hintz has 11 points (five goals, six assists) and a plus-1 rating in 15 playoff games.

He collected 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-18 rating in 76 regular-season games. Hintz has spent his entire NHL career with the Stars, who drafted the native of Finland in the second round in 2015, and has totaled 377 points (175 goals, 202 assists) and a plus-95 rating in 468 regular-season games over seven seasons.

Hintz has recorded 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists) with a plus-4 rating in 93 postseason games.

The Hurricanes host Game 5 on Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.

Andersen, who registered his fifth career postseason shutout, did not play in Carolina's 6-2 loss in Game 3 after surrendering nine goals on 36 shots in the first two games of the series. He had held opponents to two goals or fewer in eight of his nine appearances in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Logan Stankoven, Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina, which ended a 15-game losing streak in the conference finals.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 of 26 shots for the Panthers, who were trying to sweep the Hurricanes in the conference finals for the second time in three years.

The Hurricanes took their first lead of the series when Stankoven scored at 10:45 of the second period.

Florida defenseman Seth Jones tried to chip the puck through the neutral zone, but it went to Carolina rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin at the Panthers blue line and he made a backhanded touch pass to Stankoven coming through the neutral zone on his left.

Stankoven had room to bring the puck to the top of the left circle before blasting a wrist shot into the top of the net on the short side.

Nikishin, playing in his third NHL game, all in the current postseason, earned his first NHL point with the assist.

Florida defenseman Nate Schmidt hit the left post 58 seconds after Stankoven's goal, but the Panthers were mostly quiet on the offensive end through the first two periods.

Florida did not have a shot on goal for a 14:40 stretch that bridged the first and second periods.

The Hurricanes briefly appeared to stretch their lead to 2-0 on a goal by Mark Jankowski with 13:29 left in regulation, but Florida successfully challenged for offsides.

Aho scored into an empty net with 2:11 remaining for an insurance goal 2-0, then Staal did the same with 1:45 to go to make it 3-0.

The Panthers were without forward Sam Reinhart for the second straight game. Reinhart led Florida in goals (38) and points (79) during the regular season.

However, as the Stars prepare for Tuesday's key Game 4 contest in Edmonton, they trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series and are in desperate need for their game-breakers to make a difference.

Dallas deserved a better fate in Sunday's 6-1 loss, but that does not change the fact that too many key players didn't contribute.

Jason Robertson scored, but that was just his first goal of the playoffs while he battles back from injury.

Mikko Rantanen has gone six games without a goal, as has Wyatt Johnston.

Meanwhile, Matt Duchene has one tally in the playoffs, Tyler Seguin has scored in one of the last 13 games and captain Jamie Benn is on a 13-game swoon.

To top it off, goaltender Jake Oettinger has been outdueled by his Edmonton counterpart Stuart Skinner while Dallas has been outscored 9-1 in the past two games.

"It's frustrating, and it's sometimes hard to not let the frustration come, but we've got to do our best to not let it come to our minds," Rantanen said. "We've just got to stick with it."

Whether the potential return of Roope Hintz, who missed last game due to injury and is listed as day-to-day, makes a difference remains to be seen. Hintz is hopeful to play.

But the Stars are well aware they must turn the tide or be knocked out by the Oilers in the conference finals for the second consecutive year.

"We still have an opportunity to try and get one on the road," Robertson said. "I don't think it's any frustration with what we have to do. There are a lot of veterans in this room and they're going to be up to the challenge."

The Oilers, meanwhile, are rolling, having won 10 of their last 12 games as they look to take a stranglehold on the series.

As much as Skinner was the difference-maker in Sunday's loss by making 33 saves, including 20 in the second period, the Oilers are finding a way to win in a variety of ways.

The Game 3 clash was a textbook example of what Edmonton can do with minimal scoring chances. Perhaps no better example was Connor McDavid's clutch goal in the final seconds of the second period. While the Stars were pressing for the equalizer, McDavid received one opportunity off a turnover and buried his second goal of the game.

It also marked a breakout for the superstar who had scored only three goals in the playoffs prior to Sunday.

"I think people forget he's a 60-goal scorer," Zach Hyman said. "I mean, he's probably an underrated goal-scorer. He makes the right play, whether it's a pass or a goal, right? ... And when he has an opportunity to shoot it, and he shoots it, there's a good chance it goes in."

Unlike years past, though, the Oilers are more than just the McDavid and Leon Draisaitl show. Eighteen skaters have scored at least one goal, and seven have at least five.

Hyman tallied twice in a three-point game, defenseman Evan Bouchard leads all defensemen with six goals and 17 points, and the leading point producer in the series is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has notched a pair of goals and five assists in the three outings.

"For his whole career, he's been able to be a two-way player. He's just that type of guy," Skinner said of Nugent-Hopkins. "That's why he's such a huge part of our team and a huge part of the organization."

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who hasn't played in the postseason due to an injury, may return, and forward Connor Brown, who exited the last game after receiving a hard and high hit from Alex Petrovic, is out.

After a long pause following a reporter's question regarding the team's starting goalie, Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour confirmed speculation on Monday with two words: "Freddie's starting."

"He's been great for us all year," Brind'Amour added, "and he had a nice couple days off, so it makes sense to chuck him in there."

Andersen was pulled as the starter after allowing nine goals on 36 shots over the first two games against the Panthers, including five in the series opener and four in Game 2. Pyotr Kochetkov filled in for Game 3, during which Florida torched the netminder for six goals on 28 shots, including five scores on 13 attempts in the third period.

Andersen shined between the posts during the first two series of the Stanley Cup playoffs, going 7-2 with a .937 save percentage while holding opponents to 1.3 goals per game. His success faded against the Panthers with his save percentage dropping to .750.

Brind'Amour, however, remains confident in Andersen's ability to bounce back.

"One of the things that's great about him is he's had so many trials and tribulations through his career," Brind'Amour said. "He's taken months off and then plops into the net, and it feels like he hasn't missed a beat. I don't know how that is, but certainly (it's) a unique skillset. We need it tonight, obviously."

Brown did not participate in the morning skate after leaving Sunday's Game 3 after a thunderous hit from Stars defenseman Alex Petrovic. As Brown tried to move the puck along the boards in the second period of an eventual 6-1 Edmonton win, Petrovic came down from the far side of the offensive zone and caught Brown with a forceful check that sent him to the ice.

Brown was already dealing with an undisclosed injury that made him a game-time decision for Game 1 of the series and caused him to miss the morning skate ahead of Game 2. However, he played in the first three games of the series.

Knoblauch did not say how much time Brown is expected to miss.

Brown, 31, has eight points (five goals, three assists) in 14 playoff games. He totaled 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) and a plus-9 rating while playing in all 82 games during the regular season.

Knoblauch said it's undecided if veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm will play in Game 4 as he remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Ekholm, 35, fully participated in practice but has logged only 1:52 of ice time since March 26.

The Stars lead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, which will return to Dallas for Game 5 on Thursday night.

Coach Paul Maurice confirmed Monday morning that Reinhart (lower-body injury) will not suit up as Florida looks to close out the best-of-seven series in Sunrise, Fla.

Defenseman Niko Mikkola and forward A.J. Greer will also sit out Game 4, with Maurice characterizing all three players as day-to-day.

Reinhart, 29, did not play in Saturday's 6-2 victory in Game 3. He has not scored in the series against Carolina and has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 14 games this postseason.

Reinhart recorded 81 points (39 goals, 42 assists) in 79 games during the regular season.

Game 5, if necessary, will be Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Evan Bouchard collected one goal and one assist, John Klingberg scored once and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins netted three assists for the Oilers, who have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 36 saves.

Game 4 of the series will be Tuesday in Edmonton.

Jason Robertson replied for the Stars, who have lost three straight road games. Goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 18 shots.

Dallas was without top-line center Roope Hintz, who was slashed in the foot last game. Hintz briefly took part in the pre-game skate.

Right after the Oilers dodged a bullet when a delay-of-game penalty was not called for a puck shot over the glass, Bouchard opened the scoring at the 14:02 mark with a point shot tally.

McDavid doubled the lead 36 seconds later when he completed an odd-man rush by perfectly executing a give-and-go with Nugent-Hopkins for only his second goal in 11 games.

Dallas has been outscored 9-0 in first periods on the road this postseason.

The Stars had more jump in the second period - outshooting the hosts by a 22-7 mark in the frame - and were finally rewarded with Robertson's first goal of the playoffs at 15:35 when Lian Bichsel's shot ricocheted off him and into the net.

It ended their road goal drought at 178 minutes and 57 seconds.

But McDavid restored Edmonton's two-goal lead with 18.8 seconds left in the period by ending a dominant shift with a top-shelf offering.

Hyman's breakaway tally at 3:25 of the third period - seconds after the Stars had a litany of golden chances but could not convert - extended the lead to 4-1.

Hyman added another at 12:06 and Klingberg's late power-play goal rounded out the scoring.

Edmonton forward Connor Brown left the game in the second period after being on the receiving end of a high hit from Alexander Petrovic.

Florida took a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday, scoring five goals in the third period of a 6-2 win. A victory on Monday would give the Panthers a sweep of the Hurricanes for the second time in the past three years, having also dispatched Carolina in the conference finals in 2023.

"I think the biggest thing for this group is we're really good at just focusing on what we need to do and staying in the moment and not looking ahead," Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. "You can't start looking ahead. That's a dangerous game."

Sunday marked the fourth straight game with at least five goals for Florida -- dating back to Game 7 of the second round -- to become only the fourth team in the past 30 years with a streak of that length.

The Panthers have received contributions from throughout their lineup.

Captain Aleksander Barkov led the way in Game 3 with two goals and an assist to take the team lead in postseason scoring with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 15 games. Saturday's three-point effort also extended Barkov's point streak to four games.

Jesper Boqvist, who filled in for the injured Sam Reinhart on the top line, had a goal and two assists, including the goal-ahead tally early in the third period. Defenseman Niko Mikkola, who entered the playoffs with eight career points (two goals, six assists) in 47 games over the past four postseasons, scored twice and now has a personal-best five points in the playoffs.

"He's been really impressive for his size, he moves so well, he had a good stick, defensive stick, he plays the game the right way all the time," Barkov said. "He's been great for us."

Panthers coach Paul Maurice said a decision on Reinhart's status -- the forward is day-to-day with a lower-body injury -- would be made Monday morning.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, could once again be without defensemen Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker as they try to keep their season alive.

Chatfield has missed the past four games with an undisclosed injury, last playing on May 12 in Game 4 of the second round. Walker (undisclosed) was injured in Game 2 against the Panthers.

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour will be looking for more from his top talent. Taylor Hall was minus-4 with two shots on goal while Sebastian Aho was minus-3 with two shots on goal.

Elsewhere, Andrei Svechnikov had three giveaways and did not record a shot on goal and Seth Jarvis' third-period goal on the power play was his lone shot on goal and came with Carolina trailing 6-1.

"The four rookies in the lineup (defensemen Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow, and forwards Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake) can't be some of your better players," Brind'Amour said. "That can't happen. So there's a couple guys in there that I don't think came to play the way they needed to at this time of year. ... We needed more out of some guys."

Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters Sunday that Reinhart has not been cleared to return to game action after sustaining a lower-body injury during the first period of Florida's 5-0 win in Game 2 on Thursday.

Reinhart sat out Saturday's 6-2 win for the Panthers, who hold a commanding 3-0 lead the best-of-seven series.

Maurice said a decision on Reinhart's status will be made on Monday morning, hours before Game 4 in Sunrise, Fla.

"He is not cleared, but he hasn't been ruled out either," Maurice said Sunday. "I know that sounds a little ambiguous, but it's not. That's exactly where he's at.

"We are hopeful that it's not long term, and I mean he is day-to-day and I don't think it's going to move out that way. He still has to get back on the ice. There are some steps here."

Jesper Boqvist filled in admirably for Reinhart, scoring the go-ahead goal on a breakaway at 1:29 of the third period on Saturday. He added two assists later in the period.

Reinhart, 29, recorded team-leading totals in goals (39) and points (81) in 79 games this season and is a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward.

He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 14 games in the playoffs.

Jesper Boqvist had a goal and two assists and Niko Mikkola scored twice for the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-0. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves.

Logan Stankoven and Seth Jarvis scored for Carolina and Pyotr Kochetkov made 22 saves.

Game 4 will be on Monday in Sunrise, Fla.

Boqvist put Florida ahead 2-1 at 1:29 of the third period. Filling in for Sam Reinhart, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, he cut around defenseman Dmitry Orlov into the slot and slipped a backhand five-hole on Kochetkov.

Mikkola's second of the night made it 3-1 at 6:26. He took a pass from Sam Bennett above the left circle and took it to the near face-off dot before firing a snap shot into the far top corner.

That spurred a flurry of goals for the Panthers, the first of four in a span of 4:11.

Barkov scored 29 seconds later to push it to 4-1. Matthew Tkachuk (two assists) intercepted a clearing attempt along the right wall and dished it over to Barkov, who snapped it over Kochetkov's right pad from the hash marks.

Barkov then extended it to 5-1 at 9:31, collecting a loose puck after Evan Rodrigues (two assists) knocked down another clearing pass and sending a wrist shot from the right circle over Kochetkov's glove.

Brad Marchand connected off the rush just over a minute later, scoring from the left circle over Kochetkov's blocker to make it 6-1 at 10:37.

Jarvis narrowed it to 6-2 on the power play at 11:01, putting a backhand past Bobrovsky from in front.

Mikkola gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 12:07 of the first when his centering pass hit Orlov's skate and redirected into an open side of the net.

Stankoven tied it on the power play at 14:51 of the second when he lifted a rebound over Bobrovsky's left pad.

The series is tied 1-1, with the Stars claiming a 6-3 comeback victory in the opener before Edmonton skated to a 3-0 win on Friday to even it.

But even though his team was victorious in Game 1 and blanked in the follow-up on home ice, Stars coach Pete DeBoer is not looking for a full-scale change.

"Regardless of the score, I thought our game was better than in Game 1," DeBoer said Saturday before his team headed north. "Our five-on-five game was better. ... Late in the second period, it's 1-0 and we had chances to tie it up at different points."

Dallas posted a 2-4 road record in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, while the Oilers own a 4-1 mark at home.

DeBoer had no update on the status of top-line center Roope Hintz, who left early in the third period of Friday's clash after being slashed in the foot by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse.

Regardless of whether Hintz plays, the Stars must do a better job of taking control earlier in the game -- although that is no easy feat against the high-octane Oilers. Dallas would help its cause by hitting the scoreboard first, something the Stars have done just three times in 15 playoff games.

"That's a focus for next game," Dallas forward Wyatt Johnston said. "The focus for every game is to get that first goal. We can do a better job of that."

The Oilers will hit the ice in their own arena with a frenzied crowd behind them and plenty of momentum.

Edmonton has lost only two of its last 11 playoff games, not only because of its offensive ability but also because this year's squad has improved immensely defensively.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner has deservedly been receiving praise for posting shutouts in three of the last four games, especially after struggling mightily at the start of the playoffs. But the team has made his job all the easier by limiting chances against a deep Dallas team as Edmonton forced 27 Dallas turnovers in Game 2.

"We needed a good effort to get that win," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said on Saturday when looking back at the win the night before. "There's a lot of things I like, the fact we won the special teams in Game 2 with the power-play goal and the penalty kill looked good. Obviously Stuart Skinner's play has been tremendous ... and we're getting contributions from everyone."

Now to see how much of that can return to Edmonton for the next two games.

"The players know what's important. They're a mature group and know what's at stake and want it," Knoblauch said.

Adding a wrinkle is the fact they have a 1 p.m. start local time. Add in the travel after playing on Friday, and it is a quick turnaround.

"I don't think I've ever played a playoff matinee game," Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. "Everyone's in the same boat. We've got to come out strong. We're at home. The crowd will be excited. We'll be ready. There's no excuses."

"Sam won't play tonight," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Saturday morning. "We'll list him as day-to-day."

Florida holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Jesper Boqvist will take the place of Reinhart, who sustained a lower-body injury following an open-ice hit from Carolina forward Sebastian Aho during the first period of the Panthers' 5-0 win in Game 2 on Thursday. Aho hit Reinhart near the left knee, resulting in the latter's leg bending awkwardly.

Reinhart returned for one more shift before the first period concluded but did not return for the start of the second.

Reinhart, 29, recorded 81 points (39 goals, 42 assists) in 79 games this season. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 14 games in the playoffs.

Boqvist, 26, totaled 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 78 games this season. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in nine games in the playoffs.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins collected one goal and one assist to lead the Oilers, who tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1. Brett Kulak and Connor Brown also scored, while Evan Bouchard netted a pair of assists.

Skinner made 25 saves to earn his fourth career playoff shutout, his biggest a sprawling stick stop in the third period when Esa Lindell thought he had an open net.

Goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots for the Stars, who were blanked for the fourth time in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Game 3 of the series will be Sunday afternoon in Edmonton.

After failing to score a road power-play goal in the first two rounds, the Oilers opened the scoring with a second man-advantage marker in as many outings when Nugent-Hopkins redirected Bouchard's point shot at the 5:51 mark. Leon Draisaitl drew the second assist, his 14th of the playoffs.

Kulak doubled the Edmonton lead at 15:23 of the second period. Seconds after Skinner denied a golden chance, Kulak stepped up from his point position for a feed and converted his own second chance for his first goal of the playoffs.

With his assist on the goal, Connor McDavid became the fourth player in NHL history to collect 20 or more points in four consecutive playoff runs, joining Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings, and New York Islanders greats Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier.

Brown made it a three-goal edge 73 seconds later by heading to the net and redirecting a Nugent-Hopkins shot.

Dallas forward Roope Hintz needed help to the dressing room early in the third period after being on the receiving end of a slash near the ankle from Darnell Nurse, for which he was assessed a two-minute penalty. Hintz did not return.

Skinner tied the franchise record for shutouts in a playoff year, equaling the mark set by Curtis Joseph in 1998.

This time, they'll be looking to change the story as the best-of-seven series shifts to Sunrise, Fla., for Game 3 on Saturday.

Carolina looked nothing like the dominant shot-volume team it's known to be in a 5-0 loss to the Panthers in Game 2. The team was stuck on just seven shots on goal and 28 total attempts after two periods.

It led fans to started chanting "Shoot the puck" late in the second period.

"That's just not our game," forward Taylor Hall said. "That's just not how we play."

The Hurricanes led the Eastern Conference and were second in the NHL in the regular season with an average of 31.7 shots on goal per game. They ranked first with 4,608 shot attempts for, 360 more than second place.

They've struggled to convert on chances they have had in the series. In the opener, a 5-2 loss in which they outshot Florida 33-20, they didn't score their second goal until less than four minutes remained in the contest.

"It's not easy. We have a long road ahead of us, but there's no quit in this team," captain Jordan Staal. "There's been plenty of games (all season) where we've been out of it but clawed ourselves back. A series is no different. It just takes one."

The Panthers return home with a chance to push the Hurricanes to the brink for the second time since 2023. Florida was also the lower seed two years ago when it grabbed a 2-0 series lead in the conference final against Carolina before completing the sweep.

That was the first season the Panthers had Matthew Tkachuk on their roster, and the forward has been a key addition to the group, which fell in the Stanley Cup Final that spring before winning the cup last year.

"I think you try to learn something from every series," center Anton Lundell said. "Going back a couple of years ago, after a tough (Stanley Cup) final we had that hunger for last season. And just from last season, I feel like we learned a lot as a group. ... It's a different journey this year, but at the same time, we guys who were last year, we have that in mind, and we know what it takes."

Tkachuk is known for his offensive skill, physicality, ability to agitate the opposition and gift for coming up clutch in big games. He's notched 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 14 games, one of six Florida players with at least 12 so far.

"He always plays well," Florida captain Aleksander Barkov said. "He's one-of-a-kind player and we're lucky to have him on our side. He does it all for us. He's huge for us."

While they're glad to have Tkachuk, the Panthers could be without Sam Reinhart on Saturday. The winger sustained a lower-body injury in the first of period of Game 2 after a hit from Sebastian Aho and did not return.

Florida coach Paul Maurice said Friday he would have an update on Saturday.

Darche, 48, has served as the director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past six seasons. The Lightning qualified for the playoffs in each year of that stretch, including capturing consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 and appearing in the Finals in 2022.

Darche will replace Lou Lamoriello, who left the Islanders last month after seven seasons.

Lamoriello, 82, was hired in 2018 as New York's president of hockey operations. He is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in the builders category (2009).

The Islanders missed the playoffs in 2024-25 after posting a 35-35-12 record.

New York, however, landed the top overall pick of the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft earlier this month, despite having the 10th-best chance of winning the lottery at 3.5 percent.

The voting for the award was conducted between league general managers, a panel of executives and media members following the conclusion of the second round of the playoffs.

Nill, 67, has seen his Dallas Stars reach the Western Conference finals for the third straight season. He is a two-time winner of this award (2023, 2024) and five-time finalist

Cheveldayoff, 55, has spent the last 14 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, who captured the Presidents' Trophy this season. He also was a finalist for the GM of the Year Award in 2018.

Zito, 60, is looking to guide the Florida Panthers to their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. He has been a finalist for the GM of the Year Award in three straight years and four of the last five.

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and an assist and Carter Verhaeghe added three assists for the Panthers, who lead the series 2-0. Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov also scored, and Aaron Ekblad and Evan Rodrigues each notched two assists.

Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves for his third shutout of the postseason.

Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen allowed four goals on 16 shots before he was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov to start the third period. Andersen yielded all of the Panthers' goals in a 5-2 defeat on Tuesday.

Kochetkov turned aside four of the five shots he faced.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday in Sunrise, Fla.

Forsling gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 1:17 of the first period, taking a short feed from Tkachuk to the top of the slot and snapping it past Andersen's glove.

Tkachuk made it 2-0 at 11:41 of the first. Verhaeghe retrieved a pass behind the net and cut out to the front to try to beat Bobrovsky, but his shot slid under Bobrovsky's stick and across the crease to Tkachuk for the tip-in.

Bennett deflected Verhaeghe's shot on a power play to push the margin to 3-0 at 15:50 of the first.

Sebastian Aho appeared to get Carolina on the board 51 seconds into the second period, but the Panthers challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned after a video review.

The Hurricanes had one of their few chances on a two-on-one with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the middle period, but Seth Jarvis' pass attempt to William Carrier was denied by a diving stick block from Forsling.

That prompted repeated chants of "Shoot the puck" from the crowd, with Carolina stuck on seven shots on goal.

Bennett's second of the night extended the gap to 4-0 with 39 seconds left in the second frame. Verhaeghe looped around the net and the puck rolled off his stick over to Bennett on the other side, where he put a snap shot past Andersen's left skate.

Barkov deflected Ekblad's shot past Kochetkov's glove on a power play at 13:49 of the third period for the final tally.

Florida winger Sam Reinhart left the game in the first period after sustaining a lower-body injury on a hit from Aho.

The visiting Oilers trail 1-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals heading into Friday's Game 2 clash with the Dallas Stars after surrendering five unanswered third-period goals in the 6-3 opener.

The first three of those final-frame tallies came while the Stars were on the power play, which turned Edmonton's two-goal edge into an insurmountable 4-3 deficit.

"We struggled (on the penalty kill) to start the season and found it again," Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said on Thursday. "Last year in the playoffs, it made a huge impact for us positively and we know we can get back there."

The Oilers have surrendered 14 power-play goals in only 12 playoff games. Granted, six of those scores came in the first three games of the playoffs when they faced the Los Angeles Kings. While there is some improvement, the penalty-kill woes could become a series-deciding issue if they are not addressed.

The Stars have scored 15 power-play goals during the playoffs, five more than any other team.

That said, the Oilers had a chance to make their mark on a power play of their own shortly after falling behind but failed to find the mark.

"The game got away from us through the kill and then our power play, when you have a chance to tie it, wasn't much better," Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl said. "We have to look at it and correct it."

One aspect in Edmonton's favor is its history: The Oilers have won nine series since 2017 and trailed at some point in seven of them.

"We've been really good in high-pressure situations, high-pressure games," Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. "Game 2 can be one of those. We've got to find a way to get a win. A lot of positives came out of Game 1 ... and I don't think we've got to change a lot."

The Stars, who were blanked on 14 power-play chances when they lost to the Oilers in last year's conference final, reiterated their comeback ability as well as scoring depth in the opener.

Dallas has just as many comeback victories in this year's Stanley Cup chase with six.

"It might be oversimplifying it, but Edmonton beat us out last year because their special teams were better than ours," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "We've advanced through the first two rounds and won the special-teams battle. It's not everything, but it's a really important part, and when you're feeling good about those parts of a game, you're never out."

The Stars also proved how the experience of reaching a third consecutive conference final allows a level of composure when a game is not going their way and knowing how to right the ship.

Dallas has surrendered the first goal in 11 of its 14 playoff games. Aside from that potential issue, the Stars continue to possess a businesslike approach to the situation.

That attitude is how they mounted a comeback and how they want to approach the next clash with an opportunity to take a 2-0 lead before the series shifts north.

"With the last couple runs we've been on, we're a veteran team with a lot of experience," Dallas forward Mason Marchment said. "In the room, we're talking and being positive, even when we know we haven't brought our best game through two periods. ... There's a lot of belief in that room."

It marks the end of an 11-year run for Toronto native Shanahan, during which time the Maple Leafs reached the postseason each of the last nine seasons. Prior to his arrival, Toronto qualified for the playoffs just once in nine years.

"Over the past 11 seasons, Brendan Shanahan has made countless contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs on the ice, off the ice and in the community," Keith Pelley, MLSE president and CEO, said in a statement. "Brendan is one of the most respected leaders in the game and he has instilled many of the traits that were the signature of his Hall of Fame career throughout the organization, uniting this storied franchise in the ‘Honour, Pride and Courage' that it was founded on.

"Our responsibility and driving motivation, however, is to add a new chapter to the Maple Leafs' championship history, and it was determined that a new voice was required to take the team to the next level in the years ahead. The franchise will be forever grateful for Brendan's contributions and wish him and his family every success and happiness in the future."

The six most successful seasons in Maple Leafs history in terms of victories occurred under Shanahan's watch. Postseason success, however, did not follow. Toronto won just two playoff series during his tenure, never advancing past the second round. The Leafs fell to the Florida Panthers in the second round on Sunday.

The Maple Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967 -- the longest such drought in the NHL.

"While I am proud of the rebuild we embarked on starting in 2014, ultimately, I came here to help win the Stanley Cup, and we did not," Shanahan, 56, said in a statement. "There is nothing more I wanted to deliver to our fans, and my biggest regret is that we could not finish the job."

Blashill replaces Anders Sorensen, who was Chicago's interim coach after the December firing of Luke Richardson.

Blashill, 51, will begin his second stint as a head coach in the NHL. He posted a 204-261-72 record in seven seasons with the Detroit Red Wings (2015-22).

"Jeff is an incredibly smart and talented coach who boasts more than 25 years of coaching experience across developmental leagues, the NHL and the world stage," general manager Kyle Davidson said in a news release. "He's thrived when in a position to develop young players and has shown he's capable of blending that into overall team success, a vision and philosophy we share for where we are today and where we see our team in the future. We couldn't be more excited for what's to come under Jeff's direction."

He will be the 42nd head coach in franchise history.

Blashill, a Michigan native, began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ferris State, in 1998-99. He subsequently filled a variety of roles, including as a head coach in the American Hockey League and as the head coach of Team USA three times at the IIHF World Championships, leading the team to a bronze medal in 2018, before landing with the Red Wings.

He spent the past three seasons on Jon Cooper's staff with the Lightning, with the team making the playoffs each season.

The Blackhawks have two first-round picks -- Nos. 3 and 25 -- in the 2025 NHL Draft, which begins June 27 in Los Angeles.

Richardson, 56, was dismissed while in his third season with Chicago on Dec. 5. He went 57-118-15 with the Blackhawks before being replaced by Sorensen, who guided the team to a 17-30-9 record.

Chicago has missed the playoffs in seven of the past eight seasons and hasn't won a postseason series since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2015.