Game Recap and Analysis
Just as it seemed the Carolina Hurricanes might force a Game 6 with two goals in the first period, the Florida Panthers responded decisively by scoring three goals in the second. And when Seth Jarvis netted a third-period goal for the Hurricanes, seemingly pushing the game towards overtime, the reigning Stanley Cup champions quickly shut down that possibility. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov used his strength to fend off Dmitry Orlov and set up Carter Verhaeghe for the series-clinching goal in their 5-3 victory on Wednesday, winning the Eastern Conference finals.
Returning to the Stanley Cup Final to defend their championship is a significant achievement for the Panthers. This appearance marks the 11th time in the last 12 years that a team from a Sun Belt region has competed in the Stanley Cup Final. This trend began in 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings and was only interrupted in 2019 when the Boston Bruins faced the St. Louis Blues.
Furthermore, a team from Florida (either the Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning) has now won the Eastern Conference title for six consecutive seasons, matching the current streak of Sun Belt teams reaching the Cup Final. The Panthers also become the third professional sports team from South Florida to reach their sport`s title game or series for three consecutive years, joining the Miami Dolphins (1971-1973) and the Miami Heat (2010-2014).
Although they avoided a sweep, the Hurricanes were eliminated in the conference finals for the second time in the past three seasons. They now head into an offseason facing key questions about their roster and what adjustments are necessary to advance beyond the penultimate playoff round.
Here’s a look back at what transpired in Game 5, along with insights into what lies ahead for each franchise.
Florida Panthers
Grade: B+
Florida was seemingly well-positioned for a Game 5 victory. Their injured players had returned, expected to provide a boost. However, the team appeared slow initially. A turnover by Gustav Forsling led to Sebastian Aho`s breakaway goal, giving Carolina a 1-0 lead.
Florida also struggled on the power play, failing to convert opportunities, which was particularly concerning after Aho`s second goal put the Hurricanes up 2-0 after the first period.
But the Panthers then demonstrated their characteristic resilience and scoring depth. Matthew Tkachuk`s power-play goal halved the deficit, and Evan Rodrigues tied the score just 30 seconds later. Shortly after, Anton Lundell gave Florida the lead. This highlights the team`s depth, with Rodrigues becoming the 19th different Panthers player to score in the postseason. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky rebounded strongly after a shaky first period, performing well over the final 40 minutes. Florida`s penalty kill was also effective, shutting down Carolina`s power play (0-for-4). Despite giving up a tying goal to Jarvis in the third period, Verhaeghe scored the winner (assisted by a brilliant play from Barkov), proving Florida`s “just enough” effort was sufficient to extinguish the Hurricanes` hopes. Sam Bennett added an empty-net goal to seal their third consecutive Eastern Conference title.
Carolina Hurricanes
Grade: B-
Carolina`s play in the first period of Game 5 was a continuation of their performance in Game 4. They executed their game plan effectively, capitalizing on Panthers` errors, such as the turnover that led to Sebastian Aho`s goals and a 2-0 lead. The team also showed increased fight, particularly in physical confrontations during the period.
Holding a two-goal lead after the first period was a positive sign for the Hurricanes, who were previously 6-0 this postseason when scoring first. Their defensive identity, which was key in their Game 4 win, seemed to carry over, suggesting a Game 6 was possible at the first intermission. However, Florida quickly changed the momentum in the second period with rapid back-to-back goals from Tkachuk and Rodrigues, followed by Lundell`s goal four minutes later, putting Carolina behind.
These quick goals, combined with the Panthers limiting the Hurricanes to just two shots in the first 10 minutes of the final period, initially made the series seem over. That changed when Seth Jarvis scored a tying goal, briefly reigniting Carolina`s pushback. However, Aleksander Barkov then showcased why he is an elite player, holding off Dmitry Orlov and creating space to set up Carter Verhaeghe for the winning goal, ending the Hurricanes` season.
Big Questions
Can the Panthers use rest as a refresher?
Florida hasn`t had consecutive days off since early in their second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and players are dealing with various ailments. The returning injured skaters are clearly not at full health, and those who have played every game are certainly in need of recovery time.
The Panthers now have an opportunity to rest and reset after a demanding stretch of games, which could be invaluable as they prepare for the Cup Final. They might know their opponent as early as Thursday, but it could also be a few more days before the Western Conference final is decided.
Florida will have a rest advantage regardless of who wins the West, and capitalizing on this could be a crucial factor. The Panthers remember the physical toll of long-distance travel in the Final. It`s essential to leverage every advantage available.
How aggressive will the Hurricanes be this summer, knowing next year might be their strongest chance?
With over $28 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia, the Hurricanes have significant flexibility to be major players in free agency. This level of financial flexibility is highly sought after by championship contenders because it becomes challenging to maintain once key core players are signed to long-term contracts.
That particular challenge is not yet a major issue for the Hurricanes.
They currently have seven players signed to deals longer than three seasons, including core members like Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jaccob Slavin, Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis. However, the team must consider that Jackson Blake, Scott Morrow, Alexander Nikishin, and Logan Stankoven are all set to become restricted free agents after the 2025-26 season and will require new contracts.
While there is a clear motivation for the Hurricanes to push for a championship now, this is also an organization that has historically built a significant portion of its roster through drafting. The front office must now balance their successful draft-and-develop approach with the need to take the next step towards winning a title, which will heavily influence their decisions this offseason.
