The Florida Panthers are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period with two goals from Sebastian Aho. However, the Panthers roared back in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals from Matthew Tkachuk (power play), Evan Rodrigues, and Anton Lundell to take a 3-2 lead.

Carolina tied the game at 3-3 in the third period with a goal from Seth Jarvis, igniting the home crowd. But the Panthers quickly responded, with Carter Verhaeghe scoring the game-winning goal at 12:21 of the third, off a great feed from Aleksander Barkov. Sam Bennett sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, his NHL-leading 10th playoff goal.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 20 saves for Florida, while Frederik Andersen stopped 17 for Carolina. The Panthers' ability to overcome an early deficit and their timely scoring proved to be the difference, as they closed out the series 4-1. They will now face the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers.

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Ross Levitan (Locked On Senators) and Mike DiStefano (Locked On Maple Leafs) cover all the biggest stories from the NHL.

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On Tuesday, May 27th, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. The game was played in Edmonton.

Key Storylines:

• Oilers on the Brink of the Final: Edmonton is now just one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season, showcasing their strong play in the series.
• Hyman's Injury Scare: A major concern for the Oilers was the early exit of top forward Zach Hyman. He left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury after a hit from Dallas' Mason Marchment, and did not return.
• Power Play Prowess: The Oilers' special teams were crucial, as they scored two power-play goals. Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring with a man-advantage marker in the first, and Corey Perry netted the go-ahead goal, also on the power play, in the second.
• Skinner's Solid Goaltending: Stuart Skinner continued his strong play in net for Edmonton, making 28 saves and holding the potent Stars offense to just one goal.
• Stars Face Elimination: Dallas struggled to generate consistent offense and now finds themselves in a difficult 3-1 hole, needing to win three straight games, including two on the road, to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. Jason Robertson scored the lone goal for the Stars.

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The Carolina Hurricanes are in a challenging spot as they face the Florida Panthers in the NHL playoffs. With the Panthers leading the series, the Hurricanes are on the verge of a "gentleman's sweep." This episode delves into the Hurricanes' efforts to break their losing streak in the conference finals, examining the team dynamics and strategies that have contributed to their current situation. We explore whether the Hurricanes can rally and change the course of the series or if the Panthers' early dominance will ultimately prevail.

In the Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Stars face a tough battle against the Edmonton Oilers. With superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at the helm, the Oilers have outscored the Stars 9-1 in recent games, presenting significant challenges for Dallas. This segment focuses on the Stars' struggles in both scoring and defense, highlighting key players like Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. We discuss the tactical adjustments needed for the Stars to counter the Oilers' offensive strength and keep their championship aspirations alive.

The episode wraps up with a celebration of Team USA's historic gold medal win at the World Championships. This victory marks a significant milestone for USA Hockey, especially as Team Canada finishes in an unexpected fifth place. We highlight the rising strength of American hockey and discuss the implications of this achievement on the international stage. Join us for expert insights and analysis on these pivotal moments in the world of hockey, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape.

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The Carolina Hurricanes kept their season alive by defeating the Florida Panthers 3-0 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final. This victory, played in Sunrise, Florida, cut the Panthers' series lead to 3-1.

The Hurricanes' goaltender, Frederik Andersen, was the star of the show, making 20 saves to record his fifth career playoff shutout. The game was a tight defensive battle for the first period, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net.

The Hurricanes finally broke the scoreless tie in the second period when rookie Logan Stankoven scored. He took a slick cross-ice pass from Alexander Nikishin and wired a shot over Sergei Bobrovsky's shoulder for the 1-0 lead, marking Carolina's first lead of the series

In the third period, the Panthers pushed for an equalizer, but Carolina's defense and Andersen held firm. Sebastian Aho sealed the victory for the Hurricanes with an empty-net goal at 17:49, followed shortly by another empty-netter from Jordan Staal to make it 3-0.

This win snapped a long losing streak for the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, giving them a much-needed boost of confidence as the series shifts back to Raleigh for Game 5

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The Edmonton Oilers took a 2-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars with a strong home performance in Game 3.

Nick Zararis of Locked On Oilers discusses the reasons for the Oilers sucess and some unsung heroes who helped the team win the last two games vs the Stars. Plus, how Connor McDavid and company are handling the playoff pressure.

The Carolina Hurricanes find themselves facing elimination after a third straight loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Zach Martin of Locked On Hurricanes joins us to discuss what's gone wrong and what it will take for the Canes to get back into this series, one game at a time.

It's the start of a new era for the New York Islanders who have hired Mathieu Darche as their new GM to replace Lou Lamoriello.

Gil Martin discusses the move and the many things Darche has to work on to turn the Islanders franchise around.

All this and more on today's Locked On NHL Podcast with Gil Martin.

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The Oilers roll and McDavid leads the way in a rout of the Stars. We'll also preview Game 4 between the Panthers and Hurricanes and have another edition of Game Night Q & A on Locked on NHL Game Night.

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The Florida Panthers move one win away from another trip to the Finals while the Carolina Hurricanes Conference Finals futility continues. Plus we are going to preview Game 3 between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers. And we will play plus/minus on this edition of Locked on NHL Game Night.

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