The Florida Panthers showed why they are the defending champions and why they’re headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the third year in a row.
Outplayed in the first period and outscored 2-0 on goals by Sebastian Aho, the Panthers turned it around quickly in the second period for a series-clinching 5-3 victory on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Panthers killed off a penalty and got a power play immediately after. They then struck on a Matthew Tkachuk deflection to cut the lead to 2-1. Thirty seconds later, Evan Rodrigues tipped in a center pass. One shot later, Anton Lundell did the same, and the Panthers had three goals on three consecutive shots and a 3-2 lead.
Though Seth Jarvis tied the game in the third period, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov made a beautiful play to set up Carter Verhaeghe’s go-ahead goal. Sam Bennett scored an empty-netter, his league-leading 10th playoff goal, to put the game away.
Florida will try to become the first NHL team to win back-to-back championships since the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning, who also made three consecutive trips to the final.
Florida knocked off the Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Hurricanes this season. They had fallen behind 2-0 to the Maple Leafs before winning in seven games. They won the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals before clinching in Game 5.
The Panthers will face the winner of the Dallas Stars-Edmonton Oilers series. The Oilers lead 3-1 in the Western Conference finals after Tuesday’s 4-1 victory in Game 4. They can wrap it up in Dallas on Thursday night.
The Panthers beat the Oilers in seven games during last season’s Stanley Cup Final. And they’re deeper this year after adding Brad Marchand and Seth Jones at the trade deadline.
USA TODAY provided live updates from Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Game highlights:
Panthers vs. Hurricanes highlights
When does the Stanley Cup Final start?
What’s next for the Florida Panthers?
They’re awaiting the winner of the Stars-Oilers series, which Edmonton (no Zach Hyman, who needed surgery) can wrap up as soon as Thursday night in Dallas. That would bring about a Stanley Cup Final rematch. Regardless of the winner, the Panthers will open on the road for the fourth consecutive series. That hasn’t mattered. The Panthers are 8-2 on the road this postseason and have scored five or more goals in their last five road games. They are 2-0 against the Oilers and the Stars in the regular season.
What’s next for the Carolina Hurricanes?
They ended their 15-game losing streak in the conference finals in Game 4 and got a big early performance from their stars in Game 5, but lost to Florida for the second time in three seasons. There’s plenty to like about their chances next season. Logan Stankoven, acquired in the Mikko Rantanen trade, had five playoff goals. Seth Jarvis has a bright future. Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are scoring threats. Rookies Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow made their NHL debuts on defense.
Taylor Hall and Frederik Andersen have already signed extensions, but there are plenty of pending unrestricted free agents: Brent Burns, 40, and Dmitry Orlov on defense and forwards Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Tyson Jost and injured Jesper Fast. They could use more scoring, but Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky has shown he’s aggressive in trying to improve the team.
Did Panthers touch Prince of Wales Trophy?
It’s considered bad luck to touch the conference championship trophy because the real trophy is the Stanley Cup. The Panthers touched it in 2023 then lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final. Last year they didn’t touch it and beat the Oilers (who didn’t touch their trophy, either). This year, the Panthers don’t touch the trophy again.
Final score: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 3
Carolina ends the game on the power play, but Florida holds on and advances to its third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Score update: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 3
Sam Bennett leaves the penalty box and scores into the empty net. Just 54 seconds remain. Carolina calls a timeout.
Hurricanes power play
Sam Bennett called for slashing and the Hurricanes pull Frederik Andersen to make it 6-on-4.
Score update: Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3
Aleksander Barkov spins away from a check and makes a nice pass to Carter Verhaeghe, who gives the Panthers the lead at 12:21. Coach Paul Maurice moved Verhaeghe up to the Barkov line earlier in the game.
Frederik Andersen saves
The Hurricanes goalie stops Sam Bennett and Gustav Forsling to keep the game tied.
Score update: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 3
Seth Jarvis is alone in front and chips a shot past Sergei Bobrovsky. Another goal from the Hurricanes’ top line to tie the game at 8:30.
Panthers power play
William Carrier is called for holding. Sergei Bobrovsky stops a Seth Jarvis shorthanded attempt and Frederik Andersen gloves a shot by Carter Verhaeghe to keep it 3-2 Florida.
Third period underway
Florida heads to the Stanley Cup Final if this lead holds.
End second: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2
Florida scores on three consecutive shots to quickly turn around the game and take the lead. Matthew Tkachuk ends the Panthers’ 0-for-10 slide on the power play with a deflection, then Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell tip in centering passes.
Hurricanes power play
Evan Rodrigues is called for holding. Carolina 0-for-3 so far in the game. Sergei Bobrovsky makes a big save on Seth Jarvis early. Bobrovsky kept busy as Panthers kill it off.
Hurricanes power play
Dmitry Kulikov goes off for interference seven seconds after the Anton Lundell goal. Hurricanes get one shot but can’t capitalize.
Score update: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2
What a change in this period. Anton Lundell tips in a Brad Marchand pass for the lead.
Eetu Luostarinen injury update
He won’t return to the game, the Panthers say.
Score update: Hurricanes 2, Panthers 2
Two goals in 30 seconds for the Panthers as they tie it up. Evan Rodrigues deflects in a Sam Bennett pass. Tkachuk starts the play and has two points in the game.
Score update: Hurricanes 2, Panthers 1
Matthew Tkachuk tips in an Aaron Ekblad shot to end the power-play slide.
Panthers power play
Jesperi Kotkaniemi holds Evan Rodrigues just as the Hurricanes power play ends. Florida is 0-for-2 in the game and has no power play goals in the last 10 opportunities.
Hurricanes power play
Seth Jones called for holding. Again good movement by Carolina, but Panthers kill it off.
Eetu Luotsarinen injury update
The Florida forward is not out there to start the second period. He went hard into the boards while attempting a check in the first period.
Second period underway
2-0 Carolina.
End first: Hurricanes 2, Panthers 0
Excellent period by the Hurricanes. They needed Sebastian Aho to get going and he has two goals in the period and four now in the series. Carolina limits Florida’s scoring chances, and Frederik Andersen stops Anton Lundell’s shot on Florida’s best effort. The Hurricanes’ power play (though it didn’t score) looks better than Florida’s. Shots are 9-5 Carolina and more notably, hits are 23-9 Hurricanes. Each team had five giveaways, but the Hurricanes capitalized on two Florida ones.
Score update: Hurricanes 2, Panthers 0
Another Sebastian Aho goal after another Panthers turnover, this time by Niko Mikkola. Aho uses Mikkola as a screen as he scores at 18:54.
Hurricanes power play
A.J. Greer is called for interference. During the power play, Andrei Svechnikov (slashing) and Aaron Ekblad (roughing) are penalized. Penalty is killed but Carolina showed good movement.
Panthers power play
William Carrier is called for cross-checking Eetu Luostarinen. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour tells TNT he’s frustrated by the penalties that are being called. But his team kills off another, allowing two shots. Brent Burns breaks up a good Panthers opporunity.
Panthers power play
Frederik Andersen makes a big save on Anton Lundell and in the ensuing scrum, Alexander Nikishin rips off the helmet of Nate Schmidt. Hurricanes kill it off. That’s nine kills in a row.
Score update: Hurricanes 1, Panthers 0
Hurricanes have been controlling play early. Sebastian Aho scores at 4:39 after intercepting a Gustav Forsling pass and beating Sergei Bobrovsky on a breakaway. That’s goals in back-to-back games for Aho, who had an empty-netter in Game 4.
Game underway
Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho line vs. Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov line.
What time is Panthers vs. Hurricanes Game 5?
Game 5 of the Carolina Hurricanes-Florida Panthers series is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
How to watch Panthers vs. Hurricanes NHL playoff game: TV, stream
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lenovo Center (Raleigh, North Carolina)
TV: TNT/truTV
Stream: Sling, Max
Hurricanes lines
Panthers lines
Panthers scratches
Florida’s Jesper Boqvist, Nico Sturm and Uvis Balinskis are projected to sit out with the return of Sam Reinhart, A.J. Greer and Niko Mikkola.
Projected goalie matchup
Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen (8-4, 1.84 goals-against average, .914 save percentage) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (11-5, 2.05, .914)
Panthers’ power play struggling
The Panthers’ power play went 0-for-8 in the two games that Sam Reinhart has missed. He had 13 goals and 17 assists on the power play during the regular season, though just two power-play assists this postseason.
Carolina Hurricanes injury updates
The Hurricanes will be without injured defensemen Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker again for Game 5. That means rookies Scott Morrow and Alexander Nikishin will remain in the lineup.
Florida Panthers injury updates
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola and A.J. Greer are expected to return from injuries and play in Game 5. Reinhart was hurt in Game 2 and Mikkola and Greer were injured in Game 3. Maurice said none of the players would have limitations on their minutes.