NHL Playoffs: Florida Panthers Rewrite History with Another Blowout in Eastern Conference Final

Home-ice advantage? Not anymore. The Florida Panthers have stormed into Raleigh and flipped the script on the Carolina Hurricanes, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final after back-to-back blowouts.

Game 2 was nothing short of domination. Florida dismantled Carolina with a stunning 5-0 shutout, holding the hosts to just 17 shots on goal — a painfully low number for a team fighting to stay in the series. For the Hurricanes, it wasn’t just a loss — it was a statement from the Panthers.

Sam Bennett led the charge with two goals and an assist, continuing his red-hot postseason form. The only dark cloud for Florida was a potential injury to Sam Reinhart, who exited the game early and did not return.

For Carolina, it’s another haunting milestone — their 14th consecutive loss in the Conference Finals. The pressure is now sky-high as they head to Florida, where the Panthers are feeling more than at home.

The win also earned Florida a unique piece of NHL history. The Panthers are now the first team ever in a single Stanley Cup Playoff run to notch four road victories by a margin of 4+ goals.