By Basil Stroh
HURRICANES HOPE TO CUT DEFICIT AS SERIES SHIFTS TO FLORIDA
Andrei Svechnikov and the Hurricanes hope to cut their series deficit to 2-1 as the Eastern Conference Final shifts to Amerant Bank Arena, while Sam Bennett and the Panthers can move within one win of their third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance.
* Svechnikov can help Carolina win a playoff round after facing a 2-0 series deficit for the third time in franchise history, following the 2019 First Round and 2006 Conference Quarterfinals. Svechnikov skated in the series seven seasons ago and head coach Rod Brind’Amour captained the club during the one in 2006.
* The Hurricanes can become the ninth team in NHL history to win a Conference Finals/Semifinals series after losing each of the first two games and just the fourth during the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68), following the 2022 Lightning, 1991 Penguins and 1984 Islanders.
* Bennett is set to follow up a three-point performance in Game 2 and has tallied in each of his past five Eastern Conference Final contests dating to Florida’s final-four round against New York last year. He can become the 12th player in NHL history with at least one goal in six consecutive Conference Finals/Semifinals games and first since Brayden Point (6 GP in 2021).
* The Panthers can post a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final for the second time over the past three seasons after sweeping the Hurricanes during the final-four round in 2023. Florida can improve to 7-0 in seven all-time playoff games versus Carolina.
COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS
