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Three Straight Stanley Cup Final Appearances
The Carolina Hurricanes managed to take game four away from the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena to avoid being swept. That victory for the Canes broke the Eastern Conference Finals losing streak they had of 15 games. It was a tightly contested battle that saw the Panthers struggle to score goals especially with three key players out of the lineup. The Hurricanes were able to capitalize and force a game five back in Raleigh at the Lenovo Center.
Many around the league have the said the changing point for this Panthers team was acquiring Seth Jones and Brad Marchand at the deadline. Till that point there was question marks of if Florida can make it all the way with the team looking sluggish and tired. The team is looking for its third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance which is something that is very difficult to do and of course very tasking on the body.
Jones and Marchand gave life and energy to this Florida team and it has showed throughout the playoffs and big time in this series against the Hurricanes. The Lenovo Center was rocking as the Canes went up 2-0 in the first period leaving Florida fans worried that this was coming back to Sunrise for a game six. In the second period the Cats stormed back scoring two goals within the same minute tying the game at two. Four minutes later it was Lundell who gave the Panthers the lead 3-2 shifting the whole energy of the game.
The third and final period showed signs of fight in the Hurricanes injecting energy and life to the Lenovo Center with Jarvis equalizing the game 3-3. Carter Verhaeghe had a response just four minutes later putting the Panthers back on top 4-3. The dagger in the heart was an empty net goal by Sam Bennett doubling the lead for Florida to 5-3. The Panthers win their third straight Prince of Wales trophy heading back to their third straight Stanley Cup Final.
In 2023 after winning the Eastern Conference against the Carolina Hurricanes the Panthers decided to touch the Prince of Wales trophy and would lose to the Las Vegas Golden Knight in the Stanley Cup Finals 4-1. In 2024 the Panthers defeated the New York Rangers clinching the Eastern Conference but this time they decided not to touch the Prince of Wales trophy and went on to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals 4-3. This time around once again the Panthers decided not to touch the Prince of Wales trophy after taking the series 4-1 against the Hurricanes.
What's Next:
The Florida Panthers will now await the winner of the Western Conference as the Edmonton Oilers currently have a 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars. We could see a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Finals with the slated start being either June 4 or June 7.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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