“Florida Panthers Advance to Stanley Cup Final After Dramatic Win Over Carolina Hurricanes”

The Florida Panthers are ready for the Stanley Cup final after 4-0 in games against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Panthers secured advancement via 4-3 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals then Matthew Tkachuk tied with just four seconds left to play.

It was a dramatic end, to say the least, to the fourth meeting, which was played in the FLA Live Arena. Tkachuk’s decision came in the final seconds and was his second goal of the game and third game-winner of the series. The forward received the puck behind the goal line, got firmly in front of the box and outwitted Frederik Andersen in the Hurricanes goal. The video room reviewed the goal for possible goalie interference, but the goal decision remained and the cheers were able to break out properly.

Tkachuk’s goal came after Jesper Fast tied the game at 3-3 for Carolina with just 3.22 left to play. The Swede scored his sixth goal in the playoffs played by Jordan Martinook.

Florida opened the game best and made it 1-0 through Anthony Duclair after just 41 seconds. Duclair grabbed his own rebound after first hitting the post. Tkachuk increased to 2-0 after 10:23 in numerical superiority and after his two goals in game 4 he has now scored nine goals in the playoffs.

Hurricanes reduced through Paul Stastny efter 13:03 av den kötörika förstaperioden, och en bit in i den andra (2:51) kvitterade Carolina genom Teuvo Teräväinen som efter ett skott-försök från Colin White was able to rake in the puck from the right circle.

Ryan Lomberg put Florida back in the driver’s seat after 9:49 when he took advantage of a turnover just inside the Carolina blue line. Eric Steel played forward White who tried to outwit Andersen before Lomberg pushed in the return 3-2.

It is the first time since 1996 that the Panthers are in a Stanley Cup Final. Then the team lost to the Colorado Avalanche after a certain Peter Forsberg played a leading role.

The Panthers are the third team in the NHL’s expansion era to be the lowest-ranked team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, following the Montreal Canadiens in 2021 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.

Now either the Dallas Stars or the Vegas Golden Knights are waiting to settle for the Stanley Cup final spot from the Western Conference.