Rewind to last year's finals vs. Edmonton, when Florida let a 3-0 series lead slip to 3-3 before finally nudging out a win in Game 7 to claim the Cup. This postseason, some unexpected flops at home, such as Game 3, holding a 2-0 lead, vs. the Lightning, and how about Game 6 in the last round vs. the Leafs, with a chance to close out matters before being blanked by Joseph Woll, 2-0? Carolina did finally break its 15-game conference finals skid on Monday, but we suggest it was more a matter of this curious Panthers close-out pattern, as Florida has proven capable of bouncing back quickly, and did have a 16-4 scoring edge the first three games. Play Panthers on Puck Line

The Panthers have been prone to flat efforts (in close-out games, no less) like Game 4, but usually recover with a vengeance. Florida has mostly been able to swarm Freddy Andersen in the Carolina goal, and had scored 16 times across the first three games before getting blanked on Monday. Sam Reinhart also apparently returns for Paul Maurice tonight. The Panthers were also blanked in Game 6 at home vs. the Leafs before recovering for a 6-1 road win in Game 7 in the last round, and as always, there is risk of a trailing team about ready to get closed out, pulling tis goalie earlier than it might and risking more empty-netters if behind late. That's another Carolina risk tonight. Play Panthers-Canes Over

Florida put forth a much more lethargic effort than we'd seen from the defending champions since the start of the Leafs' series. I don't believe we'll get anything close to that level of intensity tonight in Raleigh. Florida is still dealing with injuries to key personnel and we don't know who (if anyone) will return tonight. However we do know the intensity will be better and it's hard to overlook for as well as Carolina played they beat Bobrovsky once in Game 4. Underlying metrics for Florida offensively haven't been great but that's why tonight's game is being priced at a PK. I'll take the discount off the embarrassing shutout loss with an expectation Florida finds a way to move into the Cup Final.