Carolina Hurricanes Stun NHL With Last-Minute Playoff Comeback: Highlights, Reactions & What’s Next

The Carolina Hurricanes return to Lenovo Center tonight with a chance to extend the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, hosting the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina trails the best-of-seven series 3-1, but Monday’s determined Game 4 victory in Sunrise snapped the Panthers’ postseason winning streak and gave the Canes their first conference-final triumph since 2006. Momentum shift after Game 4 Head coach Rod Brind’Amour lauded his group’s “relentless forecheck” after Game 4, a formula Carolina must replicate on home ice. The line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis generated two goals in the win, while goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov turned aside 33 of 35 shots to quiet a Panthers attack that had scored 10 goals in the first two contests. Keys to forcing Game 6 • Special teams: Florida is 5-for-15 on the power play this series; Carolina’s penalty kill finally held them scoreless in Game 4. • Net-front presence: The Hurricanes recorded 14 high-danger chances on Monday, their series high, by planting Jordan Staal and Stefan Noesen at the top of Sergei Bobrovsky’s crease. • Containing Matthew Tkachuk: The Panthers’ winger has eight points through four games, but was limited to just one shot in the third period of Game 4. Injury watch Carolina winger Teuvo Teräväinen (upper body) remains day-to-day, while defenseman Brett Pesce (ankle) is still week-to-week, according to Brind’Amour’s Tuesday update. Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad exited late in Game 4 after blocking a shot; head coach Paul Maurice labeled him a game-time decision. What time, TV channel and streaming info Puck drop: 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 29 TV: TNT (U.S.), SN/CBC (Canada) Streaming: Max in the U.S. and Sportsnet+ in Canada Ticket demand surges According to primary and secondary marketplaces, remaining seats at Lenovo Center are starting near $185 with limited lower-bowl inventory. Fans arriving early can enjoy a pre-game rally outside PNC Arena’s old East Gate entrance, which now serves as the Lenovo Plaza fan zone. Series schedule at a glance* Game 1: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2 (May 20) Game 2: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0 (May 22) Game 3: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2 OT (May 25) Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2 (May 27) Game 5: Tonight in Raleigh – 8 p.m. ET Game 6†: May 31 at Amerant Bank Arena – 8 p.m. ET Game 7†: June 2 in Raleigh – 8 p.m. ET *Carolina must win to play Games 6-7; †if necessary. Why this matters A victory tonight would send the series back to South Florida and keep alive Carolina’s bid for a second Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Hurricanes overcame a 3-1 deficit against New Jersey in Round 2 last season; they’ll need that same resilience against the reigning champions to keep Raleigh’s playoff buzz roaring into June.