Panthers Speed By Hurricanes In Game 3

     The Florida Panthers disposed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers now lead 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. 

     The Cats can capture their third consecutive Eastern Conference title on Monday with a Game 4 victory. The Hurricanes have an NHL-record 15 straight Eastern Conference Finals game losses. 

     Florida got out to a 1-0 lead with 7:53 left in the first period. Aleksander Barkov sent a cross-ice pass from the left wing that grazed off Evan Rodrigues. Niko Mikkola backhanded a pass from the low right circle that went off the right skate of Dmitry Orlov in the crease area and into the net. It turned out to be the second playoff goal for Mikkola. 

     Carolina tied it up 1-1 on a power-play goal with 5:09 remaining in the second period. Brent Burns fired a one-time slap shot from the right point that was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky. Logan Stankoven flipped in a wrist shot from the right side of the crease for his fourth postseason goal. 

     In the third period, the Panthers reclaimed the lead 2-1 at the 1:29 mark of the third period. Aaron Ekblad intercepted a pass at the red line and Rodrigues tapped it ahead. Jesper Boqvist skated with it through the slot area and backhanded a shot from the low slot by Pyotr Kochetkov for his second playoff tally. 

     The Cats increased it to 3-1 at 6:26. Matthew Tkachuk dropped a pass from the neutral zone and Sam Bennett angled a pass from the high slot. Mikkola chalked up his second goal of the contest with a snap shot from the left-circle dot. 

     Florida made it 4-1 just 29 seconds later for a 4-1 lead. Tkachuk made a square pass from the right point. Barkov raced to the inner right circle and snapped a shot for his fourth postseason goal.

     It became 5-1 for the Cats with 10:29 remaining in the third. Barkov intercepted a clearing pass at the blue line. He then released a wrist shot from the top left circle for his second tally of the game and fifth goal of the playoffs. 

     The Panthers increased it to 6-1 on their fifth goal of the frame with 9:23 left in the period. Anton Lundell connected a diagonal pass from the right circle and Brad Marchand put in a forehand shot from the low left circle for his fourth goal in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.