Context:

The Florida Panthers prepare to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final, aiming for their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. Despite a chance to sweep the Hurricanes at home, the Panthers lost 3-0, creating a challenging scenario as they hold a 6-7 record in closeout games over the past two seasons. Carolina, on the other hand, broke a 15-game losing streak in conference finals with their Game 4 victory and has proven resilient when facing elimination, boasting a 3-1 record in such situations. The Hurricanes have excelled at home, tying for the NHL lead with 31 regular-season home wins and maintaining a perfect 5-0 record in two playoff rounds. Florida, having won Games 1 and 2 in Raleigh with a dominating 10-2 score, is set to regain key players Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer, who missed the previous game due to injuries.

Dive Deeper:

• The Florida Panthers, reigning Stanley Cup champions, missed their first chance to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes and secure a return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year after a 3-0 loss at home in Game 4.

• Over the past two seasons, the Panthers have a 6-7 record in closeout games, indicating the difficulty of sealing a playoff series, especially highlighted by their mixed results this year with a win in Game 5 against Tampa Bay, a loss in Game 6 to Toronto, and a subsequent Game 7 win on the road.

• Carolina's Game 4 victory ended their 15-game losing streak in conference finals, a streak that included sweeps in 2009, 2019, and a 2023 loss to Florida, reflecting their past struggles at this stage.

• The Hurricanes have shown resilience in elimination situations, holding a 3-1 record over the past two seasons, including two wins last year after being down 0-3 to the New York Rangers in Round 2.

• Carolina excelled at home during the regular season with 31 wins, tying for the NHL lead, and maintained a perfect 5-0 record in home playoff games over two rounds, setting a formidable challenge for the Panthers.

• Florida dominated the first two games in Raleigh with a combined 10-2 score, marking their fourth consecutive road win and seventh overall in the postseason, indicating strong performance away from home.

• Florida's coach Paul Maurice announced the expected return of key players Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer for Game 5, who were absent in the previous defeat due to injuries, potentially bolstering the team's lineup.