Cats Overwhelm Canes In Third Period, One Win Away From SCF

SUNRISE, FL – With their backs against the wall, the Carolina Hurricanes had to put everything they had into Game Three to keep up with the Florida Panthers. They lasted two periods, as the Cats dominated in the third, as they won by a score of 6-2. They now have a commanding 3-0 series lead and are one win away from the Stanley Cup Final.

We all knew Carolina had to adjust in this game if they wanted to even think about making this competitive. They did, switching their goaltender to Pyotr Kochetkov and hoping for the best. He helped keep this game close, but the Canes (as a whole) ran out of fuel when it mattered the most.

With no Sam Reinahrt in this game, the Panthers brought out Jesper Boqvist, and he made his presence known. Along with him, the dynamic Finns delivered in the clutch, and Carolina had no answers. Just like that, Florida’s one win away. Just one win away.

Getting Used To Early Blowouts

From an offensive perspective, Florida did almost everything right in the first period. The only thing they couldn’t do was rack up the goals on the scoreboard like they had been doing. They had a few breakaway chances and a power play to boot, but Carolina’s defense held through.

Credit has to be given to Pyotr Kochetkov for how he handled himself considering the circumstances. Starting his first game of the series against a team that just scored 10 goals in two games, he did a great job limiting the damage.

However, he was not perfect. Right off a faceoff, Florida kicked off a rush to the net headlined by the Finns, Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola. Off a flurry at the net, Mikkola backhanded the puck into the net for a 1-0 Florida lead.

On a 3v1 to the net, the Finn to Finn connection – Aleksander Barkov to Niko Mikkola – gets the job done.

Carolina has left their goalie out to dry A LOT this series. 🐈#TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/sUZdaz8iAH

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) May 25, 2025

Before another blowout could start, disaster struck for Florida. With three minutes to go in the period, Eetu Loustarinen went for the forecheck on Jackson Blake, but elbowed Blake’s head into the boards. Blake went into the locker room. After a review, Loustarinen was hit with a five-minute major penalty, ending his night early.

Now, the Panthers cleared the penalty, which trickled into the start of the second period. Still, Florida’s depth was already tested by losing Reinahart. Now, with Eetu gone, the Cats had to adjust.

A Big-Time Record At Risk

Carolina activated their trap card in the second period – Be. Boring. Their defense halted Florida’s chances on offense, though the Hurricanes still struggled to register shots. That’s not to say the Cats didn’t have chances. They had multiple shots on net, including a few shorthanded opportunities.

Hear from Panthers winger Brad Marchand following Florida's 6-2 win over Carolina. #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/hTEjEeWUtk

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) May 25, 2025

Ultimately, the Canes denied a second shutout by Sergei Bobrovsky. In the waning seconds of a penalty kill, Bob blocked a shot by Brent Burns but couldn’t corral it afterwards. Logan Stankoven came in and batted a wrister to the left side of the net, tying the game.

So both teams went into the third period tied. Head coach Paul Maurice’s record of 29-0 when holding a lead at any point in a game in the postseason was at major risk.

The Storm Drained Early

The madness began one minute and 29 seconds in. Jesper Boqvist took matters into his own hands after a key steal from Aaron Ekblad in the neutral zone. Boqvist flew by everyone and backhanded a shot into the net to give Florida back the lead.

Five minutes later, the nightmare was officially on for Carolina. Niko Mikkola doubled down with a snapshot, then Aleksander Barkov snapped a shot off a Carolina giveaway. In minutes, a 2-1 lead turned into a 4-1 demolition.

In the first two periods, Florida had a problem with aiming pucks to the sides of the net, giving Kochetkov easy saves.

That's no longer the case, and Niko Mikkola made sure of it. #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/8a9Riw383o

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) May 25, 2025

There was no chance of a comeback 10 minutes into the period. Aleksander Barkov landed a writer off another Carolina giveaway, while Brad Marchand smashed a wrister off a rush to the net.

After this, the hockey game turned into a Royal Rumble as Carolina’s frustrations rolled over while the Panthers just killed time off the clock. The Canes got a pity goal 11 minutes in, but 10 penalties in that span seems more impressive.

So that’s it for Game Three. Florida is one win away from punching their ticket to their third-straight Stanley Cup Final. They’ll look to finish the job on Monday, May 26th at 8pm. The game can be seen on TNT.