Panthers Punch Third Straight Stanley Cup Final Ticket with 5-3 Win Over Hurricanes

The Florida Panthers are headed to their third straight Stanley Cup Final after a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night at the Lenovo Center. Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe proved to be the difference-makers, with Barkov’s dazzling play behind the net setting up Verhaeghe’s go-ahead goal in the third period.

Once again, the Panthers opted not to touch the Prince of Wales Trophy, a tradition they’ve upheld since last year’s championship run. It’s a superstitious nod to their focus on the bigger prize—the Stanley Cup. Last season, this approach paid off as they outlasted the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game thriller to claim their first title in franchise history.

The game wasn’t without its drama. The Hurricanes stormed out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, capitalizing on sloppy Panther turnovers. But Florida roared back with three goals in the second period to flip the script. Despite a third-period equalizer from Carolina’s Seth Jarvis, Barkov’s playmaking and Verhaeghe’s clutch finish put the Panthers ahead for good. Sam Bennett sealed the deal with an empty-netter with just 54 seconds left.

“Barky’s pass was unreal,” Verhaeghe said post-game. “He took on two defenders and still found me with an open net. That’s why he’s our guy.”

Head coach Paul Maurice praised his team’s resilience, noting the game encapsulated hockey’s wild swings. “We were handing out pizzas early, looking like we didn’t belong. Then, boom, we’re rolling. That’s the beauty of this sport,” Maurice said with a grin.

The Panthers now await the winner of the Oilers-Stars series, with Edmonton holding a 3-1 lead. A potential rematch with the Oilers could add extra spice to the Final, as Edmonton looks to flip the script from last year’s defeat.

Florida’s subdued celebration spoke volumes. “We’re not here for trophies yet,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “We’ve got our eyes on something bigger.”