Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour has called on his team to maintain composure and avoid retaliating against the Florida Panthers' aggressive tactics. This comes after the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-2 victory on Wednesday.

Key Incidents in Game 1

• Sebastian Aho's Penalty: At 6:59 of the first period, Aho received a roughing penalty against Anton Lundell, negating a Carolina power play and leading to Carter Verhaeghe scoring the first goal.
• Shayne Gostisbehere's Retaliation: In the third period, Gostisbehere deliberately shot a puck at Brad Marchand, resulting in a double-minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for Marchand.

Coach's Perspective

Brind'Amour highlighted the importance of avoiding retaliation penalties. "Retaliation penalties are not going to get it done," he said. "We did a pretty good job with [retaliation], but it just takes one. That's my point. You can't have that one, because that really puts you behind the game and now it's different."

Player Reactions

• Jordan Staal: The Hurricanes captain acknowledged the need to limit mistakes. "They made us pay. It's a good team that knows how to score goals and finds way to win games when you make mistakes," he said.
• Sergei Bobrovsky: The Panthers' goalie remained unfazed by the Hurricanes' physical play. "It's OK. It's the playoffs. They try to get under the skin. I just focus on my things and try not to think about that," he said.

Looking Ahead

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals is set for Thursday night in Raleigh. The Hurricanes aim to break their 13-game losing streak in this round of the playoffs, including five straight losses to the Panthers.

Final Thoughts

Brind'Amour's emphasis on composure and discipline will be crucial for the Hurricanes as they look to even the series. The Panthers, known for their physical and irritating play, will continue to test Carolina's resolve.