Game 1: Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT, Stanley Cup Semifinals
The stage is set for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals as the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers face off once again — this time with the puck dropping in Raleigh for Game 1 of what promises to be a fierce and physical battle.
The Carolina Hurricanes will host the Florida Panthers in the opener of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. It’s a clash of two 47-win teams with unfinished business, fast-paced offenses, and elite talent on both ends of the ice.
Carolina holds home-ice advantage after finishing the regular season with a slightly better record (47-30-5) than Florida (47-31-4). The Hurricanes were dominant at PNC Arena this year, posting an impressive 36-9-1 record on home ice.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two clubs this season. The Panthers took the regular season series 2-1, though the Hurricanes won the most recent matchup on January 2, 3-1 in Raleigh. That game could serve as a blueprint for Carolina heading into this series: disciplined defense, opportunistic scoring, and tight checking in the neutral zone.
TEAM BREAKDOWN
Carolina Hurricanes
- Overall Record: 47-30-5
- Home Record: 36-9-1
- Goals Per Game: 3.2 (9th in NHL)
- Goals Against Per Game (Last 10 Games): 1.7
Carolina has been one of the NHL’s most balanced and defensively sound teams down the stretch. They’re 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, allowing fewer than two goals per game over that stretch. Goaltending and a rock-solid defensive core, led by Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns, continue to be their calling card.
Offensively, Sebastian Aho leads the charge with 29 goals and 45 assists, while Martin Necas has been a key playmaker lately with 10 points in his last 10 games.
Florida Panthers
- Overall Record: 47-31-4
- Road Record: 25-21-2
- Goals Per Game (Last 10 Games): 3.7
- Goals Against Per Game (Last 10 Games): 2.6
Florida enters the series after a physically taxing route through the first two rounds. They’ve leaned heavily on their forward depth and power play. Sam Reinhart, with 39 goals and 42 assists, remains the Panthers’ biggest offensive weapon, and Anton Lundell has been a clutch contributor with 10 points in his last 10 outings.
One of Florida’s biggest advantages is in penalty-heavy games — they’re 23-10-0 when opponents log more penalty minutes. The Panthers’ physical style can swing momentum, but they’ll need to stay disciplined against a Carolina team that thrives on special teams efficiency.
KEYS TO THE SERIES
Can Florida win on the road? Carolina is nearly unbeatable at home, so the Panthers must find a way to take at least one of the first two games in Raleigh.
Goaltending Battle: Carolina’s stingy defense will be challenged by Florida’s high-octane offense. The goaltending matchup — likely Frederik Andersen vs. Sergei Bobrovsky — could tilt the series.
Discipline and Special Teams: Florida’s aggressive style draws penalties but also leads to them. The Hurricanes have the edge in discipline and penalty killing. Whichever team stays out of the box may control the series tempo.
This Eastern Conference Finals showdown offers everything fans could want — playoff intensity, high-end skill, and a grudge match between two elite franchises. With last year’s sweep by Florida still fresh in their memory, expect the Hurricanes to play with added motivation and energy in front of their home crowd.
Puck drops Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT. Let the battle begin.
