SUNRISE — For the first time, FLA Live Arena will host the Eastern Conference finals.
If everything goes right, South Florida hockey fans will get the chance to see the Panthers clinch their second-ever trip to the Stanley Cup finals on home ice.
The NHL released the schedule for the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night, and the Panthers will host Games 3 and 4 in the series against the Carolina Hurricanes. They will also host Game 6, if it is needed.
Florida’s first two clinching wins in the postseason have both come on the road, first in Boston and then Toronto.
This round, none of the Panthers’ games conflict with the Miami Heat’s schedule, which happened in the previous round of the playoffs. The Heat are playing against the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals.
Here is the complete schedule for the Panthers-Hurricanes series:
Thursday: Game 1, Florida at Carolina, 8 p.m.
Saturday: Game 2, Florida at Carolina, 8 p.m.
May 22: Game 3, Carolina at Florida, 8 p.m.
May 24: Game 4, Carolina at Florida, 8 p.m.
May 26: Game 5, Florida at Carolina, 8 p.m. (if necessary)
May 28: Game 6, Carolina at Florida, TBD (if necessary)
May 30: Game 7, Florida at Carolina, TBD (if necessary)
