By Basil Stroh

PANTHERS TAKE AIM AT ADVANCING TO FINAL, HURRICANES TO STAVE OFF ELIMINATION

The Eastern Conference Final returns Monday night when the Panthers can clinch their third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance, while the Hurricanes will aim to evade elimination and take their first step towards evening the series.

* The Panthers, with at least five goals in each of their past four games, are one win away from their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance when the puck drops for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final tonight. Florida has outscored opponents by a 61-33 margin this postseason and own a plus-28 goal differential, which would be the highest by a team entering the Final since the Mark Messier-led 1994 Rangers (+29).

* Sam Bennett (9-5—14 in 15 GP) is set to appear in his 100th career playoff game and has led the Panthers in goals this postseason (tied with Mikko Rantanen for the League lead) – a total that includes three goals through the Eastern Conference Final. Should Bennett find the back of the net in Game 4, he would become the fifth player in franchise history to hit a double-digit goal total in a single postseason. Bennett would join Matthew Tkachuk (11 in 2023), Carter Verhaeghe (11 in 2024), Sam Reinhart (10 in 2024) and Dave Lowry (10 in 1996).

* Seth Jarvis (5-8—13 in 13 GP) is leading his team in points through the Eastern Conference Final, while operating at a point-per-game pace, and will aim to help the Hurricanes become the fifth team in NHL history to win a playoff round after facing a 3-0 series deficit. Carolina would join the 2014 Kings (R1 vs. SJS), 2010 Flyers (CSF vs. BOS), 1975 Islanders (QF vs. PIT) and 1942 Maple Leafs (SCF vs. DET).

* The Hurricanes are the first team to face a 3-0 series deficit against the Panthers since the Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Edmonton evaded elimination in three consecutive contests to force a winner-take-all Game 7 before falling in the seventh-and-deciding contest.

COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS