The Florida Panthers are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida played a strong defensive game, limiting the Carolina Hurricanes offensive opportunities and skating to a stingy 6-2 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Carolina got off to a better start than they had in either of the previous games, outshooting Florida 4-2 in the opening minutes.

It didn’t stop the Panthers from scoring the first goal of the game for the third time this series.

Niko Mikkola collected the puck at the side of Carolina’s net and sent a pass toward Sasha Barkov on the doorstep.

The puck went off the skate of Dmitry Orlov and past Pytor Kochetkov to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 12:07 mark.

After Carolina logged four shots in the game’s first 6:30, Florida held them without a shot on goal for 10:01 of game time.

With just over three minutes left in the period, Eetu Luostarinen was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding after he hit Jackson Blake into the boards.

Florida was able to kill off 4:52 of the penalty before Jerperi Kotkaniemi was called for cross checking Seth Jones to wipe out the final seconds of the man advantage.

During the extended power play, the Cats and Canes each logged the same amount of shots on goal: two.

Arguably the save of the game came by Sergei Bobrovsky about midway through the second period.

With Carolina coming on an odd-man rush, Bobrovsky slid to his right and got his blocker on a one-timer by Logan Stankoven to keep the Hurricanes off the scoreboard a little bit longer.

Speaking of Stankoven, he jumped on a rebound with Carolina on the power play late in the period and beat Bobrovsky to tie the game at one.

Early in the third period, just after a Florida power play expired, Jesper Boqvist sent the fans inside Amerant Bank Arena into a frenzy.

He carried the puck over the blue line, turned Dmitry Orlov inside out with an outside-inside move and slid the puck under Kochetkov to put the Panthers back in front 2-1 just 89 seconds into the final frame.

The frenzy got even louder about six minutes later when Mikkola came down the left side of the ice and wired a wrist shot over Kochetkov’s glove to double Florida’s lead.

Just 30 seconds later, Sasha Barkov added a fourth goal after making a great move to his backhand, putting the Panthers up by three in what felt like the blink of an eye.

He wasn’t done there.

Barkov scored again, this time on a shot that went off Shayne Gostisbehere’s stick, just 2:36 later to push Florida’s lead to 5-1.

Brad Marchand got in on the fun a mere 66 seconds later, finishing off a great feed from Anton Lundell, giving the Panthers a five-goal lead.

Seth Jarvis added a power play goal for Carolina with 8:59 to go, but at that point it was way too little, too late.

On to Game 4.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Mikkola had one point through the first two rounds of the playoffs, but he’s got at least one point in each of the three games against Carolina.

He left the game during the third period after taking an awkward tumble into the boards behind Florida’s net.

Evan Rodrigues is riding a four-game point streak, logging seven assists during the run.

Barkov also has points in each of his past four games, with three goals and four assists.

Boqvist has two goals and two assists over his past three games.

Aaron Ekblad has points in three straight games, picking up an assist on Boqvist’s goal.

Matthew Tkachuk logged a pair of assists, giving him five points over a three-game point streak.

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Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) takes a shot on goal as Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save during the second period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Carolina Hurricanes couldn't have possibly drawn up a worse series than what's happening to them in the Eastern Conference Final currently.

They're down 2-0 to the Florida Panthers, getting embarrassed in back-to-back games at home and are also missing two of their regular defensemen to boot.

They then gave up essentially an own-goal to open Game 3 and now to make matters worse, it seems like they're going to be without impressive rookie Jackson Blake after the 21-year-old absorbed a brutal hit toward the end of the first period.

As Blake was going to retrieve a puck in the Carolina end, Florida forward Eetu Luostarinen hooked the rookie and as he was slipping, finished him head first into the glass.

Luostarinen received a five-minute penalty and the boot from the game for this hit on Jackson Blake
pic.twitter.com/RbUhI2GivR

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 25, 2025

Blake was down on the ice for a long time after the hit holding his head and bleeding from the forehead. He was eventually able to skate off the ice under his own power and went straight to the Canes locker room.

After reviewing the play, Luostarinen was also given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit.

The Canes trail 1-0 after one period and will have 1:59 of power play time remaining to start the second.

UPDATE: Jackson Blake returned for the second period.

Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!       

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With the team pressed to the salary cap, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon continues to find unique ways to add skilled forwards to his lineup and could be doing so again with KHL star Maxim Shabanov.

According to a report by Marco D'Amico of RG Media, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Golden Knights are in a "two-horse race" to sign KHL star forward Shabanov. 

The 24-year-old forward was dominant with Traktor Chelyabinsk, scoring 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games, ranking third in points among all players in the KHL. Although he's considered undersized, listed at just 5'8, 157 lbs, it hasn't affected his ability to create offence, displaying his skill set during the playoffs, recording 10 goals and 20 points in 21 games, losing in the Gagarin Cup finals. 

Shabanov, this year's big little KHL free agent has finished his KHL season.

The fight to sign him to an NHL deal starts today (it likely started last year, but shhhh.)pic.twitter.com/crvAILu3Gq

— Jack Manning (@NHLJackManning) May 21, 2025

“Maybe I'll think about it, maybe not. I've said before that all my thoughts were focused on having a successful season with Traktor. I don’t read what people write about me or listen to what they say,” Shabanov commented before the final.

Across four seasons in the KHL, Shabanov registered 67 goals and 150 points in 207 games. With Russian forwards Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev on the Golden Knights roster, they could be a factor in swaying Shabanov to sign with the Golden Knights. 

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ST. LOUIS -- Former St. Louis Blues president died on Thursday.

Sauer became the chief operating officer of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988 before moving on to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1991 to become president and CEO.

In 1996 he began a 10-year run as president and CEO of the Blues.

During Sauer's tenure, the Blues reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in each season but one (2005-06), winning the Presidents' Trophy and Central Division in 1999-2000 and reaching the Western Conference Final in 2000-01.

"Mark Sauer delivered exceptional leadership for the Blues organization at a key time in our history, overseeing a decade in which the Blues ranked among the 10 winningest clubs in the NHL and achieved the franchise's only Presidents' Trophy," Blues chairman Tom Stillman said in a statement. "His management decisions, like the hiring of Larry Pleau as general manager, along with his constant focus on serving fans and partners alike, set the team on a steady and successful path that continues today. We join his family and friends in the sports industry in celebrating Mark Sauer's positive influence on the St. Louis Blues and the entire St. Louis community."

Winnipeg Jets pending unrestricted free agent Axel Jonsson-Fjallby has signed a three-year contract with Brynas IF of the Swedish Hockey League.

The 27-year-old has been with the Jets organization for three seasons, playing 76 games in the NHL, scoring eight goals and 19 points. The bulk of his time with the organization was spent in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, recording 27 goals and 61 points in 110 games. 

Prior to signing with the Jets, Jonsson-Fjallby was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (147th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. He played just 23 games with the Capitals, spending most of his career with the Hershey Bears in the AHL.

The Stockholm, SWE native will return to the SHL, where he's played 102 games, scoring eight goals and 27 points. His previous stints in the SHL saw him play with Djurgårdens IF, but his return will see him sport new colours, those of Brynas IF. 

Featuring on Brynas IF's roster includes former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren, Anaheim Ducks prospect Lucas Pettersson, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Victor Soderstrom, former Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom and long-time NHL veteran Jakob Silfverberg.

Jonsson-Fjallby will receive the opportunity to be a key figure on a professional team, something he craved but was unable to obtain during his NHL career. 

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Jets Reveal Seven-Man Taxi Squad The Winnipeg Jets revealed their seven-man taxi squad for the playoffs, serving as extras if the team runs into injury problems.

Jets Re-Sign Forward Axel Jonsson-FjallbyThe Winnipeg Jets have re-signed forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby to a two-year contract.

Soon enough, the Pittsburgh Penguins may be adding another key piece to the puzzle for their NHL roster next season and beyond.

According to a report by Marco D'Amico of RG Media, the Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights are in a "two-horse race" to sign KHL star forward Maxim Shabanov. 

Vegas Golden Knights and Pittsburgh Penguins seem to have a two-horse race going for Maxim Shabanov.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Simashev appears Utah-bound in the coming weeks.

More on the exodus from the KHL below ⏬⏬ https://t.co/oKWVHF4UyS

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) May 23, 2025

The 24-year-old Russian center finished third in KHL scoring last season with 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games for Chelyabinsk Traktor. Although a bit undersized at 5-foot-8 and 158 pounds, the forward's stickhandling ability, creativity, and vision make him an attractive option for any interested team.

Shabanov can do things with the puck that most others simply cannot do.

Shabanov, this year's big little KHL free agent has finished his KHL season.

The fight to sign him to an NHL deal starts today (it likely started last year, but shhhh.)pic.twitter.com/crvAILu3Gq

— Jack Manning (@NHLJackManning) May 21, 2025

Across four seasons with Traktor, Shabanov has 67 goals and 150 points in 207 career games.

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Photo credit: Chelyabinsk Traktor Hockey Club