Following the Florida Panthers` hard-fought Game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the stage is set for the 2025 NHL Final Four. In the Eastern Conference, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Western Conference Final features the Dallas Stars squaring off against the Edmonton Oilers.
This Eastern Conference matchup is a compelling rematch of the 2023 conference finals, where the Panthers emerged victorious with a sweep. The central question looms: Can Carolina reverse their fortunes this time, or will Florida continue its impressive run and reach the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive year?
To help you get ready for the series kickoff, here is a comprehensive look at the teams, their journeys, key players, and essential details.
Eastern Conference Final Matchup
vs.
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)
Paths to the Conference Finals:
- Hurricanes: Eliminated the Devils in five games, then the Capitals in five games.
- Panthers: Defeated the Lightning in five games, followed by the Maple Leafs in seven games.
Leading Playoff Scorers:
- Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis (four goals, six assists), Sebastian Aho (three goals, seven assists)
- Panthers: Brad Marchand (three goals, nine assists), Eetu Luostarinen (three goals, nine assists)
Schedule:
- Game 1: Panthers at Hurricanes | May 20, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Panthers at Hurricanes | May 22, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Hurricanes at Panthers | May 24, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Hurricanes at Panthers | May 26, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 5: Panthers at Hurricanes | May 28, 8 p.m. ET (If necessary)
- Game 6: Hurricanes at Panthers | May 30, 8 p.m. ET (If necessary)
- Game 7: Panthers at Hurricanes | June 1, 8 p.m. ET (If necessary)
Series Odds:
- Panthers: -125
- Hurricanes: +105
Stanley Cup Odds:
- Panthers: +250
- Hurricanes: +300
Matchup Notes and Analysis
Carolina Hurricanes:
This marks the sixth time in franchise history and the third time in the last six years that the Hurricanes have reached the conference finals. Their three appearances since 2019 tie them with several other teams for the second-most in the NHL over that span. Notably, Logan Stankoven is set to participate in the Eastern Conference finals after appearing in the Western Conference finals last year with the Stars, making him one of the rare players to do so in their first two NHL seasons.
Carolina faces a significant challenge, having lost their last 12 consecutive games in the conference finals round. Their most recent victory at this stage was Game 7 in 2006 against the Buffalo Sabres, a game where now-coach Rod Brind`Amour scored the winning goal. This losing streak includes the 2023 sweep by the Panthers.
Under coach Rod Brind`Amour, the Hurricanes have secured 10 playoff series wins since 2019, a total surpassed only by the Tampa Bay Lightning in that timeframe. Andrei Svechnikov`s series-clinching goal in their recent series was the second-latest regulation series-clincher in franchise history. Furthermore, by eliminating the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin, the Hurricanes became the first team since the 1997 Philadelphia Flyers (also involving Rod Brind`Amour) to eliminate the NHL`s all-time leading goal scorer in a playoff series.
Florida Panthers:
The Panthers secured their spot in the third consecutive conference finals with a decisive Game 7 win in Toronto. This achievement places them among a select group of teams in the salary cap era (since 2005-06) to reach the conference finals three times in a row.
Florida`s path through the second round was particularly impressive as they overcame a 2-0 series deficit to win 4-3 against Toronto – the first time in franchise history they`ve achieved such a comeback in a best-of-seven series. They are also just the seventh reigning Stanley Cup champion in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 2-0.
The Panthers boast a strong Game 7 record, now standing at 4-1 overall, including a perfect 3-0 mark on the road, making them one of only three franchises to win their first three road Game 7s. Veteran forward Brad Marchand showcased his clutch performance in Game 7, recording three points to elevate his career Game 7 total to 10, the most among active players and tied for 10th all-time. Marchand also set an NHL record by defeating one franchise (Toronto) in five winner-take-all games. Head coach Paul Maurice also maintains a perfect record in Game 7s, improving to 6-0, a start matched only by current Dallas coach Peter DeBoer.
