Defending Champ Florida Panthers Return to Stanley Cup Final/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Florida Panthers are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Carter Verhaeghe scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period, propelling the reigning champions past a feisty Carolina squad. Florida will face either the Edmonton Oilers or Dallas Stars for the title.
Florida Panthers Head to Stanley Cup Final: Quick Looks
- Third Straight Final Appearance: Panthers advance to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
- Series Win Over Carolina: Florida wins Eastern Conference Final in 5 games.
- Verhaeghe’s Late Game-Winner: Breaks 3-3 tie with 7:39 left in regulation.
- Bobrovsky in Net: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 20 saves in the victory.
- Tkachuk Leads the Charge: Forward Matthew Tkachuk calls team “all business” heading into Finals.
- Carolina Falls Short Again: Hurricanes’ title hopes dashed by Florida for second time in three seasons.
- Sam Bennett Seals It: Scored an empty-netter straight from the penalty box.
- Opponent TBD: Panthers await the winner of Oilers-Stars (Edmonton leads 3-1).
- Coach Maurice Reflects: Calls game a showcase of hockey’s chaos and brilliance.
Deep Look: Panthers Eliminate Hurricanes, Advance to Stanley Cup Final
The Florida Panthers are once again Eastern Conference champions, knocking off the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 to secure their place in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. With a poised and balanced performance, the defending champs overcame early mistakes, executed clutch plays, and maintained composure in a hostile Raleigh environment.
Verhaeghe Delivers Late Heroics
With the score tied 3-3 in the third period, Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winner on a setup from captain Aleksander Barkov, who fended off two defenders before threading a perfect pass. The goal silenced the home crowd and set the stage for Florida’s return to hockey’s biggest stage.
“It was an unbelievable play by Barky at a critical time,” said Verhaeghe. “He fought through traffic and gave me a wide-open look.”
Panthers Rally After Early Deficit
The Hurricanes surged early, capitalizing on two neutral-zone turnovers that Sebastian Aho converted into first-period goals. But the Panthers roared back in the second, scoring three goals on consecutive shots, including a 30-second burst by Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell to seize momentum.
Florida then absorbed another blow as Seth Jarvis tied it up in the third for Carolina. But unlike Game 4, where the Hurricanes avoided elimination, the Panthers dug in and found a way to win.
“That was all the elements that make our sport great,” said coach Paul Maurice. “We looked like we didn’t belong in the playoffs one minute, then we’re dominating the next.”
Sam Bennett Caps the Night
As time wound down and Carolina pressed with a power play, Sam Bennett emerged from the penalty box to chase down a loose puck and score an empty-net goal with 54 seconds left, crushing the Hurricanes’ hopes and sealing the series.
A Familiar Result for Carolina
It’s déjà vu for the Carolina Hurricanes, who were also eliminated by the Panthers in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. Despite a win in Game 4 to avoid a sweep, the Canes couldn’t muster enough consistency to extend the series.
“They’re the standard right now,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “I thought our guys battled really hard.”
This marks the third time in recent years Carolina has been stopped short in the Eastern Conference Final, despite making seven consecutive postseason appearances.
Panthers Eye Back-to-Back Cups
Florida now looks ahead to defending its 2024 Stanley Cup title, with either the Edmonton Oilers (currently up 3-1) or Dallas Stars standing in the way.
This will be the Panthers’ third straight trip to the Cup Final, a run fueled by grit, depth, and timely performances by stars like Matthew Tkachuk, who scored in Game 5 and continues to serve as a vocal leader.
“It’s all business,” Tkachuk said postgame. “We’ve got a bigger goal in mind.”
You must Register or Login to post a comment.