Raleigh, North Carolina; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT
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STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Hurricanes host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers to open the Eastern Conference finals. The teams meet Thursday for the fourth time this season. The Hurricanes went 2-1 against the Panthers during the regular season. In their last regular season matchup on April 13, the Hurricanes won 6-4.
Carolina has a 33-11-3 record at home and a 52-21-9 record overall. The Hurricanes have a 25-7-6 record in games decided by a goal.
Florida is 42-32-8 overall and 25-20-3 on the road. The Panthers lead NHL play with 389 total penalties (averaging 4.7 per game).
TOP PERFORMERS: Sebastian Aho has 36 goals and 32 assists for the Hurricanes. Jesper Fast has five goals and three assists over the last 10 games.
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Carter Verhaeghe has 42 goals and 31 assists for the Panthers. Matthew Tkachuk has four goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 7-3-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 5.5 assists, 3.5 penalties and 9.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
Panthers: 7-3-0, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.7 assists, 4.7 penalties and 13.1 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: Ondrej Kase: out (concussion), Jake Gardiner: out (hip/back), Max Pacioretty: out (achilles), Teuvo Teravainen: out (hand), Andrei Svechnikov: out for season (knee).
Panthers: Ryan Lomberg: out (upper body), Patric Hornqvist: out (concussion).