The horn sounded, but the Florida Panthers barely raised their voices. There were no sticks thrown, no gloves in the air, no champagne-soaked sweaters. Just a few jumps over the boards, handshakes for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, and a short celebration before heading back to the dressing room.
This is what success looks like when it’s become the standard.
With a 5–3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night, the Panthers clinched their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. It was a clinical closeout against a worthy opponent, highlighted by Carter Verhaeghe’s game-winning goal and the unflinching leadership of captain Aleksander Barkov.
“It’s all business and we’ve got a bigger goal in mind,” said forward Matthew Tkachuk, echoing the team’s now-familiar no-nonsense approach to playoff victories.
Panthers have found their identity — and it’s dominant
Just a few years ago, the Panthers were stuck in the NHL’s basement, failing to qualify for the playoffs or falling early when they did. Now, they’ve become the NHL’s model for consistent, battle-hardened playoff success. Florida has won 10 of its last 11 playoff series since the start of the 2023 postseason. Only the Vegas Golden Knights were able to knock them out — in the 2023 Cup Final.
This year? They’re one step from redemption, and the job’s not done.
“It’s an incredible achievement so far,” Barkov said. “We want to compete for the Stanley Cup every single year. We’ve managed to do it three years in a row, which is, I think, an incredible achievement so far. But there’s still more to go.”
Their workmanlike culture starts at the top. Panthers general manager Bill Zito didn’t linger after the win, instead grabbing a bite and diving back into game prep. “The journey isn’t over and there’s work to do,” he said. “Don’t let success get in your way.”
The series-clinching moment embodied everything about Barkov’s leadership. Tied 3–3 in the third period, the Panthers’ captain shrugged off a check from Carolina’s Dmitry Orlov, weaved around the end boards, and slipped a perfect pass to Verhaeghe, who buried the series-winner with 7:39 remaining.
The whole play took eight seconds. That’s all Barkov needed.
“He took on one guy, then two guys, and then gave the puck to me with a pretty open net,” Verhaeghe said. “Unbelievable play.”
Barkov doesn’t seek the spotlight, but he’s earned it. The first Finnish captain to hoist the Cup last season, he has quietly become one of the most respected two-way players in hockey. Ask anyone in the Panthers’ locker room and they’ll tell you: Barky leads, and they follow.
“We’ve always had Sasha Barkov,” said veteran defenceman Aaron Ekblad. “So, there was always hope, especially in those down years.”
The Road Warriors
Wednesday’s win marked Florida’s fifth straight road victory of the playoffs and their third in Raleigh this series. They’ve now won eight road games this postseason, bringing their playoff road record under head coach Paul Maurice to an eye-popping 23–10.
This latest win was no cakewalk. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2–0 first-period lead, capitalizing on giveaways from Gustav Forsling and Niko Mikkola. But Florida stormed back with three goals in the second — from Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues, and Anton Lundell — before Carolina’s Seth Jarvis tied it again in the third.
That set the stage for Barkov’s brilliance and Verhaeghe’s finish. Sam Bennett sealed the win with an empty-netter — skating straight out of the penalty box to beat everyone to a loose puck.
“This game had all the elements that make our sport great,” said Maurice. “We’re giving up pucks, we don’t look like we should be here, and then the next thing you know we look pretty good.”
For years, the Panthers were NHL afterthoughts. They hadn’t won a playoff round for more than two decades. Now, they’ve played more playoff games in the last three seasons than any team in league history over a similar span. And they’ve done it without the fanfare — no viral locker room videos, no flashy antics. Just wins.
“I don’t think that the elation or the appreciation for the moment diminishes,” Zito said. “It’s just channeled differently. What can we start doing now? Don’t stop. Don’t get content.”
Florida awaits the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars. If it’s the Oilers — who lead 3–1 — it’ll be a rematch of last year’s Cup Final and the NHL’s first title-series rematch since 2009.
If Dallas makes it, it’ll be a coaching reunion. Maurice would face his longtime friend and former OHL assistant Peter DeBoer. The two teams didn’t even play on U.S. soil this season; their two regular-season meetings were both in Finland, and both won by Florida.
But regardless of the opponent, the Panthers know exactly what they’re chasing — and how close they are.
“The most important step is ahead of us,” said Bobrovsky.
And for Florida, that step is not just within reach. It’s expected.
[…] Sunrise with redemption on their minds and a tied series in their hands. The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and the Florida Panthers has delivered everything it promised—and more. Through two heart-pounding games, the series […]