Panthers at Hurricanes: Eastern Conference Final Game 5 preview

After a thrilling game 4 victory to tie the series, the Panthers will be looking to finish the job and become the first team to qualify for the Stanley Cup Finals. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will look to regain their confidence and find their game in the first two periods to earn their way back to the finals.

This series has been nothing short of exciting, with the teams trading off wins and both showcasing some incredibly talented hockey. Both teams will be desperate for the win, with the Panthers looking to avoid a game 6 and the Hurricanes hoping to avoid elimination.

As usual, the key to victory for the Panthers will be centered around their top players, namely Aleksander Barkov, who has been on another level throughout the playoffs, and Carter Verhaeghe, who scored the game-winning goal in game 4. If those two can find the back of the net early and create some momentum-shifting opportunities, the Panthers should be in a good position.

On the other side of the ice, the Hurricanes will be looking to Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov to bring their offense to the forefront. Both players have been relatively quiet in the latter part of this series, and if they can find a way to get involved in the action early, they could help claw their team back into the game.

All in all, this game has all the makings of a dramatic, high-stakes finish to what has been a thrilling series. With so much on the line, both teams will bring their best, and we could see some aggressive, risky hockey that could lead to some highlight-reel moments.