The Panthers held a lead throughout the entire game en route to their 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Florida is now 4-0 in the playoffs when entering the second period with the lead. Meanwhile, Carolina is now 2-2 when entering the second period when playing from behind.
Despite the Canes outshooting the Panthers 33-20, it was the latter who made the most of their opportunities in the end.
So let's recap all of the big moments from Game 1!
1st Period
The Florida Panthers may have been outshot by the Hurricanes in the first period, but that didn't stop them from scoring more.
After the Canes failed to convert on their first power play, Carter Verhaeghe sent the first one home, his fifth of the playoffs, during Florida's first power play to put the Panthers up 1-0.
Just four minutes after their first, Aaron Ekblad put the Panthers up 2-0 after the Canes failed to score on a perfect opportunity.
But Carolina's high-motor style of play proved to be worth it with just 15 seconds left in the period as Sebastian Aho put the Canes on the board to cut the lead to one before the first intermission.
The goal was reviewed for Aho potentially kicking the puck in, but it was later ruled a good goal.
Heading into the second period, Carolina outshot (10-7) and outhit (23-20) Florida while also winning more faceoffs (57.7%) and blocking more shots (6-5).
2nd Period
And much like the previous period, Florida scored the first goal of the period after a beautifully executed two-on-one that ended with A.J. Greer's second goal of the playoffs and Niko Mikkola's first assist.
The Panthers started the period outshooting the Canes 7-1. But Carolina started to flip the script, outshooting Florida 9-8 at the end of the period.
Carolina started getting plenty of good looks but just couldn't find a way to get the puck past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was shaken up after a collision with Canes' winger Andrei Svechnikov.
Jack Roslovic had an open look for the Canes at one point after teammate Taylor Hall knocked the stick out of Bobrovsky's hand, but the veteran goaltender stood strong and prevented Carolina from cutting the lead for a second time.
Even though Carolina still managed to stay ahead on just about every level on the stat sheet, failing on their second power play of the game proved to be a crucial one.
3rd Period
In their first shot in over 15 minutes extending from the second period, Florida got on the board yet again with a power play goal as Sam Bennett found the net just over six minutes into the period, his seventh goal of the playoffs.
With just over five minutes left to go in the game, Eetu Luostarinen scored his fourth goal of the playoffs to put the game out of reach as the Panthers went up 5-1.
Things got heated in the period after Shayne Gostisbehere shot the puck intentionally at Brad Marchand.
Gostisbehere retaliated after a roughing penalty by Marchand that was seen as a cheap shot.
The Canes finally capitalized on their fourth power play of the night to cut the Panthers' lead to three, but it wasn't enough despite going with an empty net with three minutes to go in the game.
In the end, the Panthers took Game 1 in front of Carolina's home crowd.