The Florida Panthers, defending Stanley Cup champions and No. 3 seed from the Atlantic Division, overwhelmed the Carolina Hurricanes, the No. 2 seed from the Metropolitan Division, with a 6-2 victory in Game 3. The game was tightly contested through the first two periods, with Florida leading 1-0, but the Panthers exploded for five goals in the first 10:37 of the third period, setting a franchise record for the most goals in a single playoff period. This win gives Florida a commanding 3-0 series lead, with a chance to sweep and advance to their third straight Stanley Cup Final in Game 4 on May 26, 2025.
Full Details of Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes – Game 3, 2025 Eastern Conference Final
Final Score: Florida Panthers 6, Carolina Hurricanes 2
Date: May 24, 2025
Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Series Status: Florida leads 3-0 in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final
Broadcast: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, TVAS, CBC
Highlights of the Match
When the first period began, Seth Jones was about to a the early goal for the Panthers, but it was blocked by Frederik Andersen the Hurricanes Goalkeeper. Then Logan Stankoven of the Hurricanes was about to get the goal which Sergei Bobrovsky left the puck unattended, as Aaron Ekblad was able to put it out of the spot to avoid a costly goal. The Hurricanes had played a lot of the effort to get the shot on target which Bobrovsky the Panthers Goalkeeper was able to save it and shield it. Meanwhile, Sam Bennett was about to take shot as Matthew Tkachuk passed the puck to Carter Verhaeghe, which it hit the post as it was close from getting in the goal zone. Everyone then fought to get the puck into the net which Frederik Andersen was about to save it, as the Hurricanes defense was able to put it away. After that, Evan Rodrigues passed the puck to Aleksander Barkov and gives it to Niko Mikkola scored (backhanded pass deflected off Carolina defenseman Dmitry Orlov’s skate). The Panthers were able to get out of deadlock with the lead of 1-0 at 12:07 in the 1st Period. After that, Eetu Luostarinen of Florida received a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding Jackson Blake at 16:59. Florida successfully killed off the extended power play, which carried into the second period.
The Second Period began with Jesperi Kotkaniemi was caught for Cross-checking Seth Jones and got 2 minutes penalty to give the Panthers the Power Play which it was unlucky to create chances. After that, Matthew Tkachuk made a terrific play and did a backhand shot, and it was saved by Pyotr Kochetkov. After that, Logan Stankoven of the Hurricanes took the wrist shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky and the fans hyped up the spirit of joy to avoid a costly goal. It didn’t last for the following several tries when Gustav Forsling was given a two-minute delay for causing the puck to go over the glass when Logan Stankoven scored a power-play goal on a rebound off Burns’ point shot with help from Brent Burns. In the second period, the Carolina Hurricanes managed to tie the score at 1-1 at 14:51.
The Amazing 5 Goals of the 3rd Period.
The 3rd Period began with Jesper Boqvist scored on a breakaway, assisted by Evan Rodrigues and Aaron Ekblak with a backhanded shot between Pyotr Kochetkov’s skates after a Carolina turnover in the neutral zone. The Florida Panthers has regained the lead 2-1 at 1:29 in the 3rd Period, as the home crowd went electric at Amerant Bank Arena. After Bobrovsky was able to shield the puck, Niko Mikkola scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. Mikkola received a pass on the rush and scored with a wrist shot from the left circle to the top right corner with the lead of 3-1 Florida at 6:26. 30 seconds after the game resumed, Aleksander Barkov scored, assisted by Matthew Tkachuk, after Tkachuk capitalized on a Dmitry Orlov turnover, feeding Barkov in the slot for a shot to Kochetkov’s blocker side. The Electric Panthers’ fans were hyped up for at the atmosphere in Sunrise, Florida as the Florida Panthers 4-1 at 6:55. It was amplified for the fans appreciation for the team’s depth and resilience for the expanding goals in the 3rd Period for a wakeup call. The party has continued to play the Panthers way as they played Panthers Pulse by Selva and Öwnboss. After a few minutes, Barkov scored his second goal, with Jesper Boqvist assisted. Aleksander Barkov was able to throw the puck towards the net from the left circle, bounced off Carolina defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere’s stick. The Florida Panthers scored the lead of 5-1 at 9:31. Within a full minute, the Florida Panthers got their final goal of the night as Brad Marchand scored, assisted by Anton Lundell and Jesper Boqvist. Marchand capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity with a cross-ice pass from Lundell 6-1 Florida at 10:37. Matthew Tkachuk was caught for 2 minutes for Roughing Sebastian Aho. Lastly, Seth Jarvis scored a power-play goal, assisted by Logan Stankoven, with a backhand from the low slot. At 11:01, the Carolina Hurricanes scored, and the Panthers seized a 6-2 lead. When the buzzer rang to wrapped up the game, the fans threw the rats onto the ice and they celebrated the electric victory of 6-2, as the Panthers has one more victory left before winning the Eastern Conference Finals and moving on to the Stanley Cup Final for the 3rd Year in a row.
Key Player Performances
- Florida Panthers:
- Aleksander Barkov: 2 goals, 1 assist, led the third-period onslaught and was a dominant force offensively and defensively.
- Niko Mikkola: 2 goals, a career-high for the defenseman in a playoff game, showcasing offensive contributions from the blue line.
- Jesper Boqvist: 1 goal, 2 assists, stepped up in the absence of Sam Reinhart, scoring a critical breakaway goal.
- Matthew Tkachuk: 2 assists, instrumental in creating scoring chances, including a key play on Barkov’s goal.
- Evan Rodrigues: 2 assists, filled in effectively on the penalty kill and set up Boqvist’s goal.
- Sergei Bobrovsky: 23 saves on 25 shots (.920 save percentage), critical in killing off Carolina’s power plays and maintaining the lead.
- Sam Bennett: 1 assist, contributed to Mikkola’s second goal.
- Anton Lundell: 1 assist, set up Marchand’s goal.
Team Stats
- Shots on Goal: Florida 28, Carolina 25
- Power Plays:
- Florida: 0/5, but no power-play goals noted.
- Carolina: 2/3 (Stankoven and Jarvis scored on power plays).
- Penalties:
- Florida: Eetu Luostarinen (5-minute major, game misconduct for boarding), Gustav Forsling (delay of game).
- Hits/Physicality: Florida’s aggressive forecheck and Carolina’s turnovers were noted as key factors.
- Goaltending:
- Florida: Sergei Bobrovsky, 23/25 saves, .920 save percentage.
- Carolina: Pyotr Kochetkov, 22/28 saves, .786 save percentage.
Game Notes
- Franchise Record: Florida’s five goals in the first 10:37 of the third period set a Panthers record for the most goals in a single playoff period.
- Injuries and Lineup Changes:
- Florida was without Sam Reinhart (lower-body injury), with Jesper Boqvist stepping into the lineup and delivering a standout performance.
- Eetu Luostarinen’s game misconduct forced Florida to adjust, with Rodrigues and Tomas Nosek taking on larger roles on the penalty kill.
- Penalty Kill: Florida’s penalty kill was crucial, successfully neutralizing Carolina’s five-minute power play after Luostarinen’s major penalty, which extended into the second period.
Key Quotes
- Brad Marchand (Florida): Emphasized the team’s focus on staying in the moment and not looking ahead to a potential sweep, highlighting their preparation for a seven-game series.
- Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida): Praised the team’s depth and work ethic, noting the fun and camaraderie within the group.
- Paul Maurice (Florida Coach): Highlighted the penalty kill as a turning point, praising players like Boqvist, Rodrigues, and Nosek for stepping up.
Upcoming Game
- Game 4: Monday, May 26, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida (Broadcast: MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC). A Florida win would secure a sweep and a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance.
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