By Canadian Press

Reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers get second shot at closing out Hurricanes in Eastern final

May 28, 2025 | 8:55 AM

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Florida Panthers missed on their first chance to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes and return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year.

Closing out a playoff series isn’t easy, even for the reigning Cup champions.

The Panthers are just 4-7 in series-clinching games over the past two seasons entering Wednesday night’s visit to Carolina for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. That includes Monday’s 3-0 home loss with a chance to sweep the Hurricanes in this round for the second time in three seasons.

Florida is 1-2 in closeout games this year, losing at home to Toronto in Game 6 of a second-round series before winning Game 7 on the road. It is trying to become the ninth franchises in NHL history to reach the Stanley Cup Final in three or more consecutive seasons.

The Hurricanes’ season-extending win in Game 4 ended a 15-game losing streak in a conference final, a run going back to sweeps in 2009, 2019 and the 2023 loss to Florida.

ARSON

Two charged with setting fires in northern Sask.

Jun 06, 2025

Critical assistance

Premier Moe responds to criticism for not calling in federal, military help to handle wildfires

Jun 06, 2025

Red Cross wildfire fundraiser

Pattison Media stations to join 'Saskatchewan Day of Caring' June 12

Jun 06, 2025

Trailing 3-1 in this best-of-seven series, Carolina had tied for the NHL lead with 31 regular-season home wins, then went 5-0 in two playoff rounds. But Florida won Games 1 and 2 in Raleigh by a combined 10-2 score, earning its fourth consecutive road win of this postseason and seventh overall.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Aaron Beard, The Associated Press