Updated 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket, Schedule After Panthers Eliminate Canes

For the third straight season, the Florida Panthers are heading to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Panthers stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period and overwhelmed the Carolina Hurricanes yet again, winning 5-3 and winning the Eastern Conference Finals in five games.

The Panthers are now awaiting the winner of the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars. Edmonton holds a 3-1 advantage in the Western Conference Finals.

NHL Schedule

Western Conference Finals

Game 5 (Thursday, May 29): Edmonton at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

*Game 6 (Saturday, May 31): Dallas at Edmonton, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

*Game 7 (Monday, June 2): Edmonton at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

*if needed

Stanley Cup Finals

Schedule to be determined.

Sebastian Aho had Carolina feeling pings of hope in the first period, scoring a pair of goals, but the Panthers came roaring back behind second-period tallies from Matthew Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell.

Seth Jarvis provided a final gasp for the Canes in the third period, leveling the score, but Carter Verhaeghe restored the lead about four minutes later and Sam Bennett provided the final blow with an empty-netter late.

The Panthers have emerged as the dominant force in the Eastern Conference and are looking to win a second straight title, bolstered by a devastating attack (3.82 goals per game in the postseason) and the steady presence of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

The Panthers have won two of their three series in five games, and since dropping the first two contests to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round are an impressive 8-2.

A repeat showdown against Connor McGregor and the Oilers seems likely, given how dominant Edmonton has been this postseason (just four losses), and certainly would make for fantastic theater after last season's seven-game classic.

At the very least, the Panthers held up their end of the bargain on Wednesday.