RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Florida Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight season with a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final at Lenovo Center on Wednesday.

Florida had just punched its ticket once again to the Stanley Cup Final — its third consecutive season making it to the final series, its third consecutive opportunity to win it all — with a 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. And yet, everything appeared to be business as usual.

The Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year, beating the Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 to win the Eastern Conference final. Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winning goal with less than eight minutes left in the third period off a brilliant assist from Aleksander Barkov.