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2025 NHL Postseason: Conference Finals Review & Stanley Cup Preview

Florida defeats Carolina, 4-1 Series Recap: What started as an interesting matchup and rematch from two seasons ago quickly turned into one team steamrolling its way to the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers' experience was on display against a Hurricanes team that ran its way through two division rivals. They flexed their muscles by winning both games in Raleigh to take a 2-0 series lead back home. The Canes showed a lot of fight in Game 3, sitting tied after two periods before the floodgates opened and Florida took a commanding 3-0 advantage. The Hurricanes responded by shutting out the Cats on the road in Game 4, preventing a sweep behind a 20-save performance from Frederik Andersen. The Canes looked like they were in a good spot in Game 5, leading 2-0 after a pair of Sebastian Aho goals. Instead, Florida blitzed them for three goals in the second period and a late Carter Verhaeghe goal in the third to put the series away and claim their third straight Prince of Wales Trophy. The T...
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"Cat-astrophic": 2025 Postseason, Eastern Conference Final, Game 5 (FLA leads 3-1): Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

For, potentially, the final time this season, the Carolina Hurricanes skated out to "Rock You Like a Hurricane" with hopes of sending the series back to Sunrise for a sixth game. The Canes finally snapped their long losing streak on Monday night, behind a 20-save performance by Frederik Andersen. Alexander Nikishin got to experience a home game for the first time after playing his first three games on the road. With Florida's lineup returning to full strength, they went in for the kill in Raleigh. Scoring Summary 1st Period CAR (4:39)- Sebastian Aho (6) (unassisted) CAR (18:54)- Sebastian Aho (7) (Seth Jarvis (10)) 2nd Period FLA (7:23)- Matthew Tkachuk (5) PP (Aaron Ekblad (8) & Seth Jones (4)) FLA (7:53)- Evan Rodrigues (1) (Sam Bennett (6) & Matthew Tkachuk (11)) FLA (11:59)- Anton Lundell (5) (Brad Marchand (10)) 3rd Period CAR (8:30)- Seth Jarvis (6) (Andrei Svechnikov (4) & Shayne Gostisbehere (6)) FLA (12:21)- Carter Verhaeghe (6) (Aleksander Barkov (10...
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"Signs of Life": 2025 Postseason, Eastern Conference Final, Game 4 (FLA leads 3-0): Hurricanes at Florida Panthers

The Hurricanes needed to show some heart with their season on the line. They played two-thirds of a solid game on Saturday night, but a third-period collapse ended in a 6-2 defeat, pushing the Panthers to a 3-0 series lead. With the same lineup going, except for the goalie, it was time to put together 60 minutes of hard work to fight another day. Meanwhile, the Panthers were looking for their third straight Prince of Wales Trophy and another trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Scoring Summary 1st Period None 2nd Period CAR (10:45)- Logan Stankoven (5) (Alexander Nikishin (1)) 3rd Period CAR (17:49)- Sebastian Aho (5) EN (Andrei Svechnikov (3) & Seth Jarvis (9)) CAR (18:15)- Jordan Staal (2) EN (Brent Burns (4)) My Thoughts June 1, 2006, was 6,934 days ago. That's the last time we saw the Hurricanes win a game in the conference finals. It started to feel like we might never see this again. With the Canes falling behind 3-0 in the series, THIS was MY Stanley Cup. All I wanted was one ...
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"Crumbled and Collapsed": 2025 Postseason, Eastern Conference Final, Game 3 (FLA leads 2-0): Hurricanes at Florida Panthers

The Hurricanes are flirting with a fate like their last three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Panthers won both games in Raleigh to open the series, outscoring the Canes 10-2, including a 5-0 shutout victory on Thursday night. Florida's stars are running circles around Carolina's, and now they're hitting the road down 2-0 with a sweep looking more and more likely. Unless something remarkable happens, the Canes' season will likely end in the next few days. For now, we just need to appreciate the time we have left. Scoring Summary 1st Period FLA (12:07)- Niko Mikkola (2) (Evan Rodrigues (9) & Aleksander Barkov (9)) 2nd Period CAR (14:51)- Logan Stankoven (4) PP (Brent Burns (3) & Jesperi Kotkaniemi (4)) 3rd Period FLA (1:29)- Jesper Boqvist (2) (Evan Rodrigues (10) & Aaron Ekblad (7)) FLA (6:26)- Niko Mikkola (3) (Sam Bennett (5) & Matthew Tkachuk (9)) FLA (6:55)- Aleksander Barkov (5) (Matthew Tkachuk (10)) FLA (9:31)- Aleksander Barkov (6) (J...
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"Bob: The Void":2025 Postseason, Eastern Conference Final, Game 2 (FLA leads 1-0): Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

The Hurricanes were completely outworked by the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, beginning the Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-2 loss in Game 1. With the Panthers leaving the Hurricanes licking their wounds, they turned to a few lineup changes to turn the tide in this series before traveling to Sunrise. Mark Jankowski returned to the lineup in Jesperi Kotkaniemi's place, taking his place on the fourth line. Jalen Chatfield remained out, missing his third straight game. Scoring Summary 1st Period FLA (1:17)- Gustav Forsling (1) (Matthew Tkachuk (8)) FLA (11:41)- Matthew Tkachuk (4) (Carter Verhaeghe (6) & Niko Mikkola (2)) FLA (15:50)- Sam Bennett (8) PP (Carter Verhaeghe (7) & Evan Rodrigues (7)) 2nd Period FLA (19:21)- Sam Bennett (9) (Carter Verhaeghe (8) & Aaron Ekblad (5)) 3rd Period FLA (13:49)- Aleksander Barkov (4) PP (Aaron Ekblad (6) & Evan Rodrigues (8)) My Thoughts I'm not sure I've ever seen Andrei Svechnikov have a period worse than his fir...
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"I Didn't Hear No Bell": 2025 Postseason, Eastern Conference Final, Game 1: Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

It's time for the Hurricanes to exercise their conference final demons, trying to avoid being swept in the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth straight trip. This season, they're facing a familiar foe. Two years ago, the Florida Panthers won a tight four-game series against the Hurricanes before falling to Vegas in the Stanley Cup Finals. Last season, the Panthers reached the top of the mountain. Now, they're trying to do it again. With a deeper team, they'll be an incredible test for the Hurricanes, who seek their first finals appearance since winning it all in 2006. Scoring Summary 1st Period FLA (8:30)- Carter Verhaeghe (5) PP (Aleksander Barkov (8) & Matthew Tkachuk (7)) FLA (12:29)- Aaron Ekblad (3) (Evan Rodrigues (5)) CAR (19:45)- Sebastian Aho (4) (Seth Jarvis (7) & Andrei Svechnikov (2)) 2nd Period FLA (3:33)- AJ Greer (2) (Niko Mikkola (1) & Tomas Nosek (2)) 3rd Period FLA (6:08)- Sam Bennett (7) PP (Evan Rodrigues (6) & Carter Verhaeghe (...
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2025 Postseason: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers Eastern Conference Preview

Florida's Postseason Path The Panthers emerged as the sole survivor from the Atlantic Division after beating the Maple Leafs in seven games in the 2nd round. Florida began its Cup defense with another Sunshine State Showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite the Bolts holding home ice for the series, the Panthers won both games against their in-state rivals. After splitting in Sunrise, the Panthers finished the job in Tampa, winning 6-3 in Game 5 to win all three games on the road and advance in five games. Against the Maple Leafs in the second round, Florida fell behind 2-0 after a pair of high-scoring one-goal losses. The Panthers rattled off three straight victories to take a 3-2 lead, dropped Game 6 at home, and won Game 7, 6-1, to a chorus of boos from the Toronto faithful.  Season Series November 29th (in Raleigh): Beginning a post-Thanksgiving home-and-home, the Panthers used a three-goal third period to break a 3-3 tie and prevail 6-3 on the road.  November 30th...
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