By NHL Public Relations

May 24, 2023

The Panthers can clinch their second Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history and first since 1996 when they take a 3-0 series lead into Game 4 against the Hurricanes on Wednesday.

The contest is available on TNT in the U.S. as well as on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.

Florida is 10-1 in its last 11 contests dating to an overtime victory in Game 5 of the First Round, which kickstarted the Panthers’ rally from a 3-1 series deficit against the 65-win Bruins. Florida can become the fourth different franchise to enter the Stanley Cup Final after earning wins in 11 of its last 12 contests that postseason, following Montreal in 1993, Chicago in 1992 as well as Edmonton in 1987 and 1983.

The Panthers now sit one win away from joining the 2021 Canadiens and 2017 Predators as the third team in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to advance to the Stanley Cup Final after entering the postseason as the League’s lowest-ranked team. 

The Hurricanes look to join the 1942 Maple Leafs (SCF vs. DET), 1975 Islanders (QF vs. PIT), 2010 Flyers (CSF vs. BOS) and 2014 Kings (R1 vs. SJS) as the only teams to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.  

Carolina owns an all-time record of 15-16 (.484) when facing elimination and will be doing so for the first time this postseason. 

Carolina faces the task of becoming the fifth franchise in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to win a series after facing a 3-0 deficit and the first to do so during the round before the Final. 

Click here to read the May 24 edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates, which featured more team and player notes heading into Game 4.

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 24, 2023, NHLStats Resources – May 24, 2023 Edition