It won't be easy because the Panthers just might be one of the best teams in the last 40 years, but Carolina has to bridge the gap somewhat in order to legitimately compete with Florida in the east.  So, let's dig into some of the players who just might be able to make that happen.  Oh, and there's a bonus conversation with Jaccob Slavin at the end.  

Adam Gold and Canes legend Erik Cole talk 2024-25 season.  What does Carolina need to take the next step.  Would Cole bring back Brent Burns?  And just how close are the Hurricanes to where they want to be.

The Canes jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of Sebastian Aho goals. But, the Panthers seized their chances in the 2nd period, scoring 3 times in a 4:36 span and went on to win it 5-3. Florida advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third straight year winning the series 4 games to 1. Seth Jarvis scored a 3rd period goal that brought the game even at 3-3, but Carter Verhaeghe scored less than 4 minutes later to restore the Panthers to the lead and the Canes never scored again. 

Frederik Andersen came back into the lineup after mising Game 3 and shut out the Panthers on 20 shots.  Logan Stankoven scored early in the 2nd period to give the Canes their first lead of the series.  That goal proved to be the game-winner, though Carolina would add on 2 empty net goals for the final total.  Game 5 will be Wednesday night in Raleigh.

The Canes were one good third period away from possibly winning Game 3 and making the Panthers sweat out this Eastern Conference Final series.  But, the Panthers scored 5 times in a 9:08 span and cruised to a 6-2 win.  Pyotr Kochetkov started and was excellent for 40 minutes, but he ran out of magic as Florida moved to within 1 win of their 3rd straight Stanley Cup Finals series.

The Panthers took advantage of a bevy of Hurricanes mistakes and humiliated Carolina in Game 2. Andrei Svechnikov turned the puck over 3 times in the 1st period. The first directly led to a Gustav Forsling goal just 77 seconds into the game. Florida led the game 3-0 before the first intermission and the Canes never really threatened. Sebastian Aho did have a goal called back for the play being offside early in the 2nd period, but Carolina never really threatened to score after that and Florida are two home wins away from reaching their third straight Stanley Cup Finals. 

The Panthers scored twice on the power play, Sergei Bobrovsky outplayed Frederik Andersen, and the Canes lost Game 1, 5-2. They trail the Eastern Conference Finals 1-0 with Game 2 on Thursday. Sebastian Aho and Jackson Blake scored for the Hurricanes, but once they fell behind they never got their footing in the game. Bobrovsky made 31 saves. Andersen allowed 5 goals on 20 shots. 

The Canes got another game-winning goal from Andrei Svechnikov and Frederik Andersen stopped 18 of 19 shots he saw as Carolina won 3-1 and claimed the series in 5 games. Carolina will play the winner of the series between the Panthers and Maple Leafs for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Jordan Staal and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes who improved to 5-0 in the playoffs when they score the first goal. 

Freddie Andersen stopped 19 shots, Taylor Hall and Sean Walker scored huge 3rd period goals and the Canes beat the Capitals, 5-2, taking a 3-1 lead in the series. The Hurricanes can eliminate the Capitals on Thursday night in Washington. Carolina lead 1-0 after 1 on a Shayne Gostisbehere goal. Seth Jarvis scored early in the 2nd to double the lead. Hall and Walker answered Washington 3rd period goals as once Carolina had the lead they never gave it up. For what this is worth, the Hurricanes have never lost a best-of-seven series in which they held a 3-1 lead. 

The Canes beat the Caps, 4-0, Saturday night as Frederik Andersen shut Washington out on 21 saves and Andrei Svechnikov scored his 6th goal of the playoffs.  Carolina takes a 2-1 series lead heading to Game 4 on Monday night.  Andersen's best work was done early steering aside 9 Washington shots in the first period to keep the game scoreless.  Svechnikov broke the scoreless tie with a great goal right off of an offensive zone face off.  Jack Roslovic scored his firsst goal of the playoffs on the power play before the end of the second period.  Eric Robinson and Jackson Blake scored in the 3rd period with Blake's goal coming on the power play.