Why the Carolina Hurricanes might well be on their way to the most embarrassing, listless, dismal playoff series in their 28 years in North Carolina.

Clamping down on defense and erupting on offense in the third period, the Panthers pulled away for a 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. The win gave Florida a 3-0 series lead and a chance to clinch a second straight Stanley Cup Final appearance on home ice.

Sebastian Aho and the Carolina Hurricanes look to bounce back against the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs East Final on Saturday.

Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) skates off the ice after suffering an injury during the third period of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. David Santiago [email protected]

With his club up 2-0 in the series, Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen was ejected from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the first period, after a boarding major against forward Jackson Blake of the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

The Carolina Hurricanes switched goalies for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, starting Pyotr Kochetkov in net against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

This series has been all Florida through two games, and our Hurricanes vs. Panthers props expect more of the same in Game 3.