Revenge is a dish best served cold—and the frozen surface at Lenovo Center sets the perfect tundra for the Carolina Hurricanes to avenge their 2023 Eastern Conference Final loss to the Florida Panthers. This time around, they better not miss. Ahead of their rematch with the Cats in the 2025 ECF, captain Jordan Staal issued a bold warning to Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and the rest of Florida’s roster.
The Hurricanes are dragging a burden in the Eastern Conference Final which needs immediate action. Carolina has lost its last twelve games in this stage, being swept in its last three appearances in the NHL playoffs semifinal.
Their last mishap in the Conference Final was against Tkachuk and the Panthers, in a series that was really close, and the Canes still refuse to believe they deserved to be swept. Staal hasn’t lived down that feeling yet, and he made it clear with a strong warning to Florida, which now features Marchand in its lineup, further strengthening their already star-studded roster.
When Carolina and Florida last met in the playoffs, the Cats escaped with the win in one-goal games in each outing en route to the Canes’ third straight elimination in four games during the Eastern Conference Final. Then, Staal had to look his heartbroken teammates in the eye and convince them there would be a shot at redemption. Now, their chance at revenge is standing right in front of them.
“It’s definitely in the back of your mind, and you want to get them back,” Staal stated, via NHL.com. “It didn’t feel good at the time, and whenever you have tough losses when you feel good about where you’re headed, they always stick out in your mind. But [it’s] a new challenge and different players.“
Know your enemy
The Hurricanes are no strangers to the Panthers’ style of play and they have plenty of film to study from thanks to Florida’s deep runs in recent years in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Cats’ championship run last season. Carolina is determined to re-write history, though, hoping to hoist its second Cup after their 2006 conquest.
There are similarities between both teams’ gameplans, who thrive on defense and make a living off their aggressive forechecks. However, the Hurricanes cannot let the foot off the gas against the Panthers that need little space to get going.
“They’re a puck-pressure team, a forechecking team,” Staal added. “They’ve got a lot of talent, good special teams, and they don’t beat themselves. We have to be on our game against a great team like that. Once the game gets going, it’s who does it better and who’s sharper.”
Iron sharpens iron
No team in the NHL ever becomes successful without enduring big bumps and bruises along the way, and the Hurricanes are no exception—just like the Panthers were no exception, either. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour is confident his team has learned its lesson after the latest collapse, though he acknowledged the Panthers have evolved, as well.
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“How is it going to be different? We know we’re playing the Stanley Cup champs,” Rod Brind’Amour admitted. “They got better, in my opinion. They picked up [Marchand and Seth Jones], who were some of the best players off other teams. It’s going to be a challenge. We know it’s going to be tough, but it’s supposed to be at this time of year. Guys who have been through it understand that a little more now because they have been through it.”