Niko Mikkola and Aleksander Barkov each scored twice, and the Florida Panthers scored five goals in a nine-minute span of the third period to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 on Saturday night and move one win from a third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Clamping down on defense and erupting on offense in the third period, the Panthers pulled away for a 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. The win gave Florida a 3-0 series lead and a chance to clinch a second straight Stanley Cup Final appearance on home ice.

The Panthers scored five goals in an explosive third period, beating the Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final and putting Carolina on the brink of elimination.

With his club up 2-0 in the series, Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen was ejected from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the first period, after a boarding major against forward Jackson Blake of the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

The Florida Panthers are on the brink of advancing to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. Florida put together a five-goal third period to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-2, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Sam Reinhart did not play for the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Carolina on Saturday night because of a left knee injury, one that happened Thursday when he was skated into by the Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho.

Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola left Game 3 on Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes after scoring twice.

Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola each scored twice, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Florida Panthers in a 6-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. The Panthers are on ...

The Panthers' new tradition plays on Marchand's reputation as a "rat" -- but the celebration can trace its roots back almost 30 years.