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The Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year, beating the Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 to win the Eastern Conference final.
Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winning goal with less than eight minutes left in the third period off a brilliant assist from Aleksander Barkov.
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Panthers advance to Stanley Cup Final for third straight year, eliminate Hurricanes: Takeaways
The Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final despite not having home-ice advantage in any of their first three series.
You'd think this would be a pretty rare occurrence but it's actually the fourth time in the past five seasons that a team has managed this feat.
The others to do so during that time span: Panthers in 2023, Lightning in 2022, Canadiens in 2021.
And things won't be any different for Florida in the Final. Regardless of which team emerges from the West, that team will have home ice in the Final.
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Zach K.: Well, a Game 6 would have been a more respectable way to go out, but at least we got one Eastern Conference final win. Now we’ve got to leverage that cap space and those draft picks to further improve for next year and finally get the Cup back to North Carolina. Congrats and respect to Florida. You have a great team, and Maurice is a true inspiration of a coach who after years of trying finally reached the pinnacle of success. Definitely hope Edmonton beats you though.
Erik L.: Man, three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances. Feels like I'm living a dream.
Jim S.: Wish Canes could have found this version of their game earlier in the series. Outcome may have been the same but first three games would have been watchable.
The Panthers are four wins away from winning the Stanley Cup for the second straight season. If they manage to do so, they'll become just the third team during the salary cap era (2005-06) to go back-to-back, joining the Penguins in 2016-17 and the Lightning in 2020-21.
With his go-ahead goal in the third period, Carter Verhaeghe now has three career series-clinching goals, trailing only Max Pacioretty and Artturi Lehkonen (both with 4) for the most among all active players.
Sam Bennett, meanwhile, became the first player to reach the 10-goal mark this postseason, thanks to his empty netter.
Between the Panthers and the Lightning, the state of Florida has now had a Stanley Cup finalist in six straight seasons.
The last state to have a run like that was New York from 1979 to 1984 (Rangers 1979, Islanders 1980-1984).
The Panthers will face either the Oilers or the Stars in the Stanley Cup Final.
A Florida-Edmonton series would mark just the second SCF rematch in the past 40 years. The only other time in that span that it's happened was the Penguins and Red Wings meeting in 2008 and again in 2009.
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The Panthers franchise has existed for 31 seasons, including this one. In their first 28 years, they won four total playoff series. In the last three years, they have now won 10 series.
The Panthers have become the seventh team since the 1967-68 expansion to appear in at least three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, joining:
So despite snapping their losing streak in conference final games on Monday, the Hurricanes have still failed to snap their losing streak in conference final series.
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006, Carolina has now been eliminated each of the last four times it appeared in the Eastern Conference final, going just 1-16 across those four series in 2009, 2019, 2023 and now 2025.
I always say that the Panthers are my favorite team to watch because they're such marvelous villains. They're like villains right out of a 1980s movie. No doubt they're big Cobra Kai fans. From Tkachuk, to Marchand, to Bennett, they have players that will drive you nuts. They're also players who you begrudgingly have to admire, because they're truly great.
Speaking of the 1980s, I believe these Panthers are the closest thing we've seen to the mighty Islanders of that era. The Panthers can beat you any way you want to play, just like those Islanders. Hall of Fame goalie? Check. Remarkable skill up front? Check. Scoring depth for days? Check. Beating up the other team if that's what it takes? You betcha. Smothering team defense? Yep. This is a special team.
Two years ago, the Panthers touched the Prince of Wales Trophy after winning the Eastern Conference final, and then went on to lose the Stanley Cup Final.
So, naturally, last year they declined to touch the trophy and subsequently won the Stanley Cup.
Coincidence? Cause and effect? Superstition? Who can say!
Unsurprisingly, given how last year went, the Panthers once again decline to hoist the Prince of Wales Trophy.
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Credit to Carolina for showing all kinds of heart in this game. But the Panthers are a team for all time, especially if they find a way to win four more games this spring. This will mark Florida's third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
They'll have some time to rest and will perhaps see Connor McDavid in what would be a fascinating rematch with the Oilers.
The opposing coaches, Rod Brind'Amour and Paul Maurice, come together for a conversation between the benches. It doesn't look super friendly but it's not exactly heated either.
Meanwhile, the Carolina fans are chanting "Let's go Canes" inside Lenovo Center. You have to hand it to them, they always create a great atmosphere despite their team seemingly always coming up just a bit short.
It's all over! The Panthers have won 5-3, eliminating the Hurricanes and advancing to their third straight Stanley Cup Final!
That should do it. What an incredible kill from the Panthers and Bobrovsky. The Hurricanes were absolutely buzzing. Take back anything you've said about them playing boring hockey. That was an incredible two minutes of hockey.
No idea how Bobrovsky made a couple of those saves. That's why he'll be in the Hall of Fame someday.
P3 0:53 – Panthers 5, Hurricanes 3
Several huge chances on the power play but Carolina can't convert!
Bennett's penalty ends. He emerges from the box, collects the puck right as it's cleared and scores into the empty net!
The Hurricanes call their timeout. Fifty-three seconds to score twice, otherwise their season is over.
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It should be mentioned that the Panthers are currently playing with only 10 forwards. Eetu Luostarinen left in the first period with an injury and A.J. Greer is on the bench but hasn't played since early in the second.
P3 2:05 – Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3
A brilliant play sets Svechnikov up with a free shot from the slot but he misses the net!
Moments later, the Canes pull Andersen. The Panthers shoot on the empty net but just miss!
P3 3:00 – Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3
Here we go! Here's a massive opportunity for the Hurricanes to rescue their season, as Bennett goes to the box for slashing Staal.
Carolina is 0-for-4 on the power play so far tonight …
