You look at the Carolina Hurricanes' record under coach Rod Brind'Amour in the Eastern Conference final, and you begin to wonder why they even bothered to show up for it. That's fair.

Florida has yet again laid claim to being a hockey state after the Florida Panthers clinched their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance following a 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday.

The Florida Panthers look to advance to the Stanley Cup Final as the Carolina Hurricanes attempt to extend the series in Game 5 of the East Final on Wednesday.

The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes meet in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.

Rucker was named the siren sounder to mark the start of the Carolina Hurricanes' Eastern Conference Final game 5 against the Florida Panthers. Fans cheered as Rucker was also wearing a Canes jersey and, of course, holding a rally towel to get the game started.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) loses his helmet during the third period in Game 6 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) AP

The Carolina Hurricanes dictated the style of play to down the Florida Panthers and stay alive in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 4 highlights:

Can the Carolina Hurricanes force a Game 6 or will the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, take the series in five games?

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Gregory Wilson and his son Nolan forged a unique bond with the Carolina Hurricanes. “I started bringing my son to the games when he was about 5,” Wilson said. As the saying goes, looking at Wilson and Nolan’s memories, a picture is worth a thousand words.

It ended in ridiculous fashion, but the Carolina Hurricanes sealed their own fate before that. Their last-gasp power play to keep their season alive came to nothing,