Reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers get second shot at closing out Hurricanes in Eastern final

RALEIGH N C AP The Florida Panthers missed on their first chance to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes and return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year Closing out a playoff series isn t easy even for the reigning Cup champions The Panthers are just - in series-clinching games over the past two seasons entering Wednesday night s visit to Carolina for Tournament of the Eastern Conference final That includes Monday s - home loss with a chance to sweep the Hurricanes in this round for the second time in three seasons Florida is - in closeout games this year losing at home to Toronto in Battle of a second-round series before winning Battle on the road It is trying to become the ninth franchises in NHL history to reach the Stanley Cup Final in three or more consecutive seasons The Hurricanes season-extending win in Event ended a -game losing streak in a conference final a run going back to sweeps in and the loss to Florida Trailing - in this best-of-seven series Carolina had tied for the NHL lead with regular-season home wins then went - in two playoff rounds But Florida won Games and in Raleigh by a combined - outcome earning its fourth consecutive road win of this postseason and seventh overall