The Florida Panthers dominated Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals with a decisive 6-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, pushing them to the brink of the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year. Florida leveraged their potent offensive power, scoring five goals in the third period alone, showcasing their ability to capitalize on critical moments. Niko Mikkola, who scored twice, and Aleksander Barkov, who had a multi-point game, were pivotal in the Panthers' offensive charge. In contrast, the Hurricanes struggled, demonstrating a troubling trend of capitulating in crucial playoff moments, leading to questions about their ability to bounce back in this series.

As they prepare for Game 4, the Panthers are well-positioned to close out the series, but they must remain vigilant against a potentially desperate Hurricanes team eager to avoid another playoff exit. The Panthers' goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky's past inconsistencies in series-closing games remain a point of concern. On the other hand, Carolina's goaltending switch to Pyotr Kochetkov has yet to yield the desired results, with the team allowing 16 goals in three games thus far, heightening the stakes for their next match.