A spot in the Stanley Cup Finals is on the line as the Carolina Hurricanes collide with the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This is the second time in the last three seasons that the two have met in the conference finals. The Panthers swept the Canes in 2023 with four one-goal wins, including a 4OT marathon in Game 1 and a last-second goal in Game 4 by Matthew Tkachuk.
The Panthers used a post-Thanksgiving home-and-home sweep to win the season series. Spencer Martin started both games during the back-to-back as the Cats scored 12 goals in just over 24 hours. The Hurricanes got a little revenge to start 2025, winning 3-1 in Sunrise on a crazy Jaccob Slavin goal midway through the third period despite an incredible Sergei Bobrovsky performance.
The Schedule
The Panthers will experience a quick turnaround, and starting on the road doesn't help matters. Things get going on Tuesday night in Raleigh for the first of two games at the Lenovo Center. The two will play every other day through the end of the series. The Panthers will get a pair of home games over Memorial Day weekend, hosting the Canes in Sunrise on Saturday and Monday.
Should the series go beyond four games, which isn't guaranteed with the Hurricanes in the conference finals, Game 5 will be back in Raleigh on Wednesday. If a sixth game is needed, the Panthers will get a Friday night at home. Game 7 would be at the Lenovo Center the following Sunday. Every game in the series is scheduled for 8 pm.
Goalies
Frederik Andersen has been the postseason's best goalie through two rounds. He enters the conference finals sporting the lowest GAA (1.36) and the best save percentage (.937). After missing the final game-and-a-half of the New Jersey series, Andersen started all five games in their series victory over the Capitals, including a shutout win in Game 3.
Sergei Bobrovsky has played every second of the playoffs for the Panthers, earning all eight of Florida's victories in 12 games. His save percentage isn't great (.901), though his goals against average is solid (2.31). Spencer Knight has served as the backup, waiting on his chance to jump into a game should Bobrovsky stumble.
Panthers to Watch
Matthew Tkachuk: Some Hurricanes fan still has nightmares about what Matthew Tkachuk did in 2023. Along with Sergei Bobrovsky, Tkachuk was the biggest difference in the Panthers' four-game sweep of the Canes, scoring the game-winning goal in three of the four contests. He's been very good since returning from injury at the beginning of the playoffs.
Sam Bennett: One of the defining moments of Florida's series with Toronto was Sam Bennett's contact with Anthony Stolarz to knock him out of the series. Bennett will be all over the ice, trying to run through everyone he sees. He's also been lighting up the scoresheet, entering the conference finals with a team-leading six goals.
Seth Jones: Picked up at the deadline by the Panthers, Seth Jones was a big part of Florida's Game 7 victory, scoring the opening goal in the second period and making a smart play to avoid an offside call to set up another goal later in the frame. With Florida's defense rivaling the Hurricanes' depth, Jones' experience will be crucial as the Panthers seek their third straight Stanley Cup Final.
Hurricanes to Watch
Sebastian Aho: After a scorching hot start to the playoffs, Sebastian Aho took a backseat during the second round with two assists in their series victory over the Capitals. Against a very tough and physical Panthers team, Aho needs to find his game again. Aho seems to thrive in tense situations, so I'm anticipating big things from him in the conference finals.
Logan Stankoven: Rookies have been an afterthought throughout the playoffs. Logan Stankoven is tied with teammate Jackson Blake and Montreal's Lane Hutson for first in rookie scoring. This is an interesting spot for Stankoven, who has experience in conference finals after reaching them out west with Dallas a year ago. This rare experience for a rookie could be valuable for the Hurricanes.
Sean Walker: An unsung player during the second round, Sean Walker was excellent against the Capitals, recording his first playoff goal and adding two assists. He notched the primary assist on the series-clincher by Andrei Svechnikov. This will be a series that requires all 12 forwards and six defensemen to pull on the rope, meaning Walker might need to showcase his offensive side again.
How the Hurricanes can beat the Panthers
It might be a tad cliche to say, but winning one game would be a good start. It's no secret that the Hurricanes have frozen at this point during their last three conference finals. The 2009 series against the Penguins is its own separate thing, but it can't erase the Canes' 12-game conference finals losing streak. This group should live and learn from two years ago and be more prepared.
This feels like a rare series when the Hurricanes are the less experienced team. They were far more experienced than both New Jersey and Washington, but the Panthers are on a different level. However, the Panthers aren't unbeatable, and the turnaround for them is quick. They'll only have one day of rest, compared to the Canes' four. We'll see on Tuesday how much that matters.
Ultimately, this series will be decided between the pipes, just like it was in 2023. Frederik Andersen and Sergei Bobrovsky each were incredible two years ago, but Bobrovsky was almost perfect. Entering this clash, Andersen is the hottest goalie in the league. If Andersen can keep that trend going, the Hurricanes might unseat the defending champs.