HIGHLIGHTS
- Luostarinen given five-minute major and game misconduct
- Blake injured on boarding by Luostarinen
- Read below for video of the penalty
The physicality is picking up in the 2025 Eastern Conference Final between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes.
In Game 3 in Sunrise on Saturday night, Panthers winger Eetu Luostarinen received a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake.
Luostarinen appeared to hook Blake, causing the Canes winger to lose his balance. The Panthers winger then finished his hit into the boards.
Eetu Luostarinen receives a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Jackson Blake 😬 pic.twitter.com/kGixnwituF
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 25, 2025
The five-minute major was upheld after review, resulting in Luostarinen getting ejected from the game.
The power play gave the Hurricanes a great chance to tie the game at the end of the first period, but they were unable to capitalize with two minutes of penalty time carrying into the second period.
The big hits have been flying both ways in this series.
Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov made a big hit on Panthers blueliner Niko Mikkola earlier in the period.
Dmitry Orlov SITS DOWN Niko Mikkola 👀 💥 pic.twitter.com/KAX0iqAo4s
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 25, 2025
Both teams are dealing with injuries in Game 3.
The Panthers are without top-line winger Sam Reinhart, who left Game 2 with a lower-body injury after a hit by Sebastian Aho. The Hurricanes are also missing two defensemen in Sean Walker and Jalen Chatfield.
