The Florida Panthers are proving to be an unstoppable force. They have secured their place in the Stanley Cup Final for the third year running after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night.

The Hurricanes mounted a determined effort in front of their home supporters, managing to tie the game at 3-3 late in the third period. It was then that Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov made a pivotal play, navigating around defenders before setting up Carter Verhaeghe with a pass to the backdoor for the game-winning goal.

Carolina`s captain, Sebastian Aho, also delivered impressive plays, scoring two goals to give his team an early 2-0 lead after the first intermission. Regrettably for the Hurricanes, this advantage was short-lived, as the Panthers surged in the second period, netting three unanswered goals in rapid succession over just 4:26.

Florida`s key players – Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Sam Reinhart – all recorded multi-point performances. These athletes are veterans of high-pressure postseason games, and their experience was clearly on display on Wednesday.

With the Eastern Conference title decided, the 2025 Stanley Cup Final is now set, potentially leading to a rematch of last year`s series. The Panthers await the outcome of the Western Conference Final. The Edmonton Oilers have the opportunity to clinch their spot against the Dallas Stars in Game 5 scheduled for Thursday night.

Contents

Western Conference Final
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Eastern Conference Final
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Round 2
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Round 1
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Western Conference Final

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Game 1: Stars 6, Oilers 3
Game 2: Oilers 3, Stars 0
Game 3: Oilers 6, Stars 1
Game 4: Oilers 4, Stars 1
Game 5: Thursday, May 29 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
*Game 6: Saturday, May 31 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
*Game 7: Monday, June 2 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+

Eastern Conference Final

(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers

Game 1: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2
Game 2: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0
Game 3: Panthers 6, Hurricanes 2
Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 0
Game 5: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 3

Round 2

(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers

Game 1: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4
Game 2: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3
Game 3: Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
Game 4: Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
Game 5: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
Game 7: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes

Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1
Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 0
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1

(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars

Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
Game 2: Jets 4, Stars 0
Game 3: Stars 5, Jets 2
Game 4: Stars 3, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 4, Stars 0
Game 6: Stars 2, Jets 1 (OT)

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT)
Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
Game 4: Oilers 3, Golden Knights 0
Game 5: Oilers 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)

Round 1

(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators

Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0
Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers

Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0
Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1
Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2
Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens

Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3
Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1

(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils

Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT)

(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues

Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2
Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2
Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2OT)

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche

Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2
Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4
Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild

Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT)
Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2

(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5
Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2
Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4
Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)
Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1
Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4

NHL Playoffs 2025: Panthers Top Hurricanes to Advance to Final