Florida Panthers Defeat Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 Advance Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Final series, including a 5-3 win in Raleigh. Panthers fans celebrated the victory enthusiastically, while Hurricanes fans expressed optimism about the team's future despite the loss, noting the experience gained and potential for offseason improvements. The Hurricanes managed to avoid elimination briefly by winning Game 4 with a 3-0 shutout, led by rookie Logan Stankoven, who scored the game-winning goal and has been a standout player throughout the playoffs. Goaltender Frederik Andersen returned to form with a strong performance, and the team showed renewed defensive discipline in that game, though they were ultimately overcome by the Panthers' dominance. The Panthers now await the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars, potentially setting up a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final. The Hurricanes, while disappointed, remain hopeful and acknowledge the need for roster changes and development to compete more effectively next season.