It was the fourth meeting between the teams and last year's Stanley cup champions took a real grip on the quarter-final series at home.
But even though Tampa Bay started the scoring already in the first period, the start of the second looked really strong for the opponents.
Five minutes into the second period, Carolina took the lead with 2-1 thanks to Swedish Jesper Fast's first playoff goal for this year.
Steady grip
Tampa's Steven Stamkos reduced the lead a few minutes later, but Carolina continued to press and went up to a two-goal lead.
But then Tampa got enough.
After a 2-4 deficit in the middle of the second period, the team began to scoop shots on goal, which paid off immediately: Three goals in five minutes, where Victor Hedman played until Nikita Kutjerov, who then put the nail in the coffin in period three, when he scored goal number six and secured the victory against Carolina.
- We wanted to come out tougher than we did in the first.
But we played right and got goals.
We led 4-2 and had good speed.
But it went fast then when they scored three quick goals.
It's tough, but we have to find a way to come back, unfortunately we did not, says Fast to nhl.com, after the match.
"Crazy period"
Tampa's Steven Stamkos is sure that fans will appreciate the match:
- Eight goals - probably the craziest period you will see during this playoffs.
The next, possibly decisive match, between the teams, can be followed during the Swedish night towards Wednesday.
In today's second quarterfinal, in New York, where the Islanders took on Boston, not as many pucks netted the box - even if it was not directly goalless.
The home team's 4-1 victory leveled the table, where it is now 2-2 in matches in the second round of the playoffs.
Their next meeting will take place on a Swedish night towards Tuesday.