Eastern Conference

(Atlantic Division No. 3) Florida Panthers def. (Metropolitan Division No. 2) Carolina Hurricanes (4-1)

The defending champion Florida Panthers are headed back to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Panthers fought back from an early 0–2 deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5–3 on home ice, clinching the series and securing their spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida fell behind in the first period after two goals from Sebastian Aho gave Carolina a 2–0 lead. But the Panthers fought back in the second, with goals from Matthew Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues, and Anton Lundell turning the game around and giving Florida a 3–2 lead. After Seth Jarvis tied the game midway through the third period, Carter Verhaeghe put the Panthers back on top with the go-ahead goal at 12:21. Sam Bennett added an empty-netter to seal the win and the series. The Panthers showcased their depth throughout the game and the postseason, with five different goal-scorers in the Game 5 win.

With this win, Florida becomes just the ninth team in NHL history to reach three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning (2020–2022) are the only other team to do so since the 1985 Edmonton Oilers.

The Panthers will now face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final. In that series, Florida won in seven games after Edmonton mounted a dramatic comeback from down 0–3 in the series. Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final is set to take place in Edmonton on Wednesday June 4th, with the Panthers looking to defend their title.