May 24, 2023, 10:50 PM
The Florida Panthers are headed to just their second Stanley Cup Final in franchise history after completing a series sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-3 win in Game 4 Wednesday night.
Matthew Tkachuk scored the game-winning goal with 4.3 seconds left in the third period to lead the Panthers to the Eastern Conference Final win.
The Panthers raced out to a two-goal lead in the first period with goals from Anthony Duclair and Matthew Tkachuk.
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But with their season on the line, the Hurricanes showed some fight and battled back to tie it at 2-2 before Ryan Lomberg’s goal put the Panthers back ahead 3-2.
Florida will now await the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars Western Conference Final series which the Golden Knights lead 3-0.
The Panthers will now try to become the first No. 8 seed to take home Lord Stanley since the Los Angeles Kings accomplished the feat back in 2011-12.
Florida’s only other trip to the Stanley Cup Final was in 1995-96 when they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche.