Panthers Secure Third Straight Stanley Cup Final Berth with Dramatic Game 5 Win Over Hurricanes

The Florida Panthers clinched their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Carter Verhaeghe’s tiebreaking goal in the third period, set up by a brilliant play from captain Aleksander Barkov, propelled the defending champions to a 4-1 series win. The Panthers, who are the No. 3 seed from the Atlantic Division, now await the winner of the Western Conference Final, where the Edmonton Oilers lead the Dallas Stars 3-1, with Game 5 set for Thursday in Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC). As Barkov said, “We’re in the Final once again, and we want to win the Stanley Cup just like any other team.”

A Game of Resilience and Clutch Moments

The Panthers faced a formidable challenge early, falling behind 2-0 in the first period after Sebastian Aho capitalized on turnovers by Gustav Forsling and Niko Mikkola to score at 4:12 and 18:54. Despite the deficit and the loss of forward Eetu Luostarinen to an injury after the first period, Florida regrouped in the second, tying the game with two goals 30 seconds apart. Matthew Tkachuk tipped in a power-play shot from Aaron Ekblad at 7:12, and Sam Bennett scored on a give-and-go with Evan Rodrigues at 7:42. Anton Lundell then gave Florida a 3-2 lead at 11:59, redirecting a pass from Brad Marchand after winning an offensive-zone face-off.

Carolina fought back, with Seth Jarvis tying the game 3-3 at 8:30 of the third period on a shot assisted by Andrei Svechnikov. However, Barkov’s heroics at 12:21 turned the tide. Battling Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov along the boards, Barkov circled the net, evaded Eric Robinson, and delivered a backhand pass across the crease to Verhaeghe, who scored into an open net. “He took on one guy, then two guys and then gave the puck to me with a pretty open net,” Verhaeghe said. “It was an unbelievable play by ‘Barkie’ at a critical point.” Sam Bennett sealed the 5-3 win with an empty-net goal at 19:06, his NHL-leading 10th playoff goal.

Panthers’ Depth and Leadership Shine

Florida’s victory showcased their depth and leadership. Barkov, who finished the series with seven points (three goals, four assists), was instrumental with two assists in Game 5, including the game-winner. Tkachuk and Bennett each contributed a goal and an assist, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 20 saves, including key stops early in the second period to keep the Panthers in contention. “We carried on that moment, and we got to our game,” Marchand said, highlighting the team’s belief after tying the game. Despite losing Luostarinen, Florida’s 10 players with at least 10 playoff points underscored their balanced attack.

The Panthers’ ability to win all three games in Raleigh, extending their playoff road winning streak to five, was a testament to their resilience. Coach Paul Maurice’s squad, which defeated Edmonton in seven games last season, became the ninth NHL franchise to reach three straight Stanley Cup Finals, joining the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020-22) as the most recent. “We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Bennett said. “We’ve been on both sides of it. We know there’s a lot more work to do.”

Hurricanes’ Valiant Effort Falls Short

Carolina, the No. 2 seed from the Metropolitan Division, pushed Florida hard despite falling behind 3-0 in the series. Aho’s two first-period goals and Jarvis’s third-period equalizer kept the Hurricanes competitive, but their inability to overcome Florida’s second-period surge proved costly. Frederik Andersen made 17 saves, while Jarvis led Carolina with 16 playoff points (six goals, 10 assists), followed by Aho with 15. “At the end of the day, we weren’t able to push through and beat them,” Aho said, acknowledging Florida’s strength. Coach Rod Brind’Amour noted the challenge of the 3-0 deficit: “You just can’t give these guys a 3-0 lead and expect to come back. It’s a big hole.”

The Hurricanes, who defeated New Jersey and Washington in five games earlier in the playoffs, have now lost 16 of their last 17 Eastern Conference Final games since their 2006 Stanley Cup win. Despite their Game 4 victory (3-0), Carolina couldn’t force a Game 6, marking their second Eastern Final loss to Florida in three years.

A Historic Run and a Looming Challenge

Florida’s third straight Final appearance places them among elite company, with a chance to become the first team to repeat as champions since Tampa Bay (2020-21). Their journey has been marked by clutch performances, like Verhaeghe’s 12th career playoff game-winner, and a road-warrior mentality, with eight postseason road wins. If Edmonton advances, a 2024 Final rematch looms, pitting Barkov’s Panthers against Connor McDavid’s Oilers in a high-stakes showdown. A matchup with Dallas would present a new challenge, given the Stars’ speed and depth.

“We’re happy with what we achieved, and the way we achieved it was tough,” Barkov said. “Carolina played so well. The way we managed to win this game is for sure one that you’ll remember.” As Florida prepares for the Final, their focus remains clear: four more wins to hoist the Stanley Cup again. For now, they celebrate a hard-earned victory and brace for the next battle.

Source: article by Kurt Dusterberg on nhl.com, published May 29, 2025.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer