Watch: Hurricanes take first ECF lead over Panthers with second-period goal

It's better late than never for the Carolina Hurricanes .

On Monday, the Hurricanes took their first lead of the Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Final during the second period of a scoreless Game 4, giving the Canes a 1-0 lead.

Forward Logan Stankoven scored his fifth goal of the postseason with an open look at the net, firing a shot from the right face-off circle past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

LOGAN STANKOVEN The @Canes have the first goal in Game 4! #StanleyCup : @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T : @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/3iQuBcBGyq The Panthers had dominated the series entering Monday's potential closeout.

Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead during an eventual 5-2 Game 1 victory, and followed that with three first-period goals in Game 2's 5-0 romp.

In Saturday's Game 3, the Panthers broke a 1-1 tie through two periods wide open with a five-goal third period in a 6-2 win.

As Florida proved in its last game, it can catch fire at any time, so Carolina can't feel comfortable with a 1-0 lead.

However, it's preferable to where it has found itself throughout the one-sided Eastern Conference Final.

For once, the Canes are the ones being chased.

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports.

He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, mens and womens college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf.

He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans.

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