• Florida scored five goals in the third period, including two each from Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola.
• Carolina started backup goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, who was pulled after the third period barrage.

SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers are one win away from returning to the Stanley Cup finals for the third straight season.

A third-period five-goal blitz opened up a tighter-than-expected game and led the defending Stanley Cup champions to a 6-2 victory over the reeling Carolina Hurricanes.

Leading 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals best-of-seven series, Florida can clinch it on May 26 at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers have outscored the Hurricanes 16-4 with goals from just about everyone on the roster.

“It’s incredible to have this kind of depth,” said Florida captain Aleksander Barkov, who scored twice. “Every single defenseman has scored in these playoffs.”

The Hurricanes started a new goalie and came out aggressively, staying with the Panthers for two periods. That all changed in the final period.

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On the night, Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, who opened the scoring in the first period on a deflected goal off defenseman Dmitry Orlov, and Barkov each scored twice and Jesper Boqvist and Brad Marchand each added a goal.

Third-period barrage puts away Hurricanes

The Panthers scored five goals in 9:08 in the third period to start the “We want the Cup” chant from the fans.

Boqvist, playing on the first line in place of the injured Sam Reinhart, opened the scoring 1:29 into the period to break a 1-1 tie. But goals 29 second apart by Mikkola and Barkov were crushing for a team hoping to get back into this series.

Hurricanes start backup goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov

After watching goalie Frederik Andersen struggle in the first two games of the series, Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour opted to start his backup, Pyotr Kochetkov, who replaced Andersen in the third period of the 5-0 loss in Game 2.

Kochetkov made a couple of nice stops early in the first period, but the Panthers got on the board when Mikkola scored on assists by Barkov and Evan Rodrigues amid a scrum in front of the net.

“He’s giving us a chance,” Brind’Amour said during a break in the second period.

Alas, the third period proved to be Kochetkov’s undoing. He eventually was pulled.

Kochetkov actually started more games than Andersen during the regular season, going 27-16-3 in 47 starts with a .898 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. He also won both regular-season games in net against the Panthers.

Eetu Luostarinen given game misconduct for fierce hit

Without their regular-season scoring leader, how much more could the Panthers be handicapped?

We found out with 3:01 left in the first period when center Eetu Luostarinen rode forward Jackson Blake into the end boards, with Blake suffering a defenseless, head-first hit into the boards as a result.

Blake was down for a couple minutes and skated off but went directly to the locker room to be examined. He started the second period and appeared to be fine.

Luostarinen, however, was done for the night.

Officials initially ruled it a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct, a decision upheld upon review. No immediate word on whether Luostarinen will face additional discipline.

Luostarinen had been on Florida’s third line with Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand.

Sam Reinhart out for Game 3

Sam Reinhart, the Panthers’ leading scorer in the regular season, missed Game 3 with a lower-body injury suffered on a hit by Sebastian Aho in Game 2. The Panthers are calling Reinhart day to day, so perhaps they think he can return later in the series.

Coach Paul Maurice said there’s no replacing Reinhart, but Jesper Boqvist took Reinhart’s spot alongside Barkov and Rodrigues on the Panthers’ top line.

Boqvist entered with one goal and one assist in the playoffs as opposed to Reinhart’s four goals and seven assists.

The line didn’t miss a beat. Twelve minutes in, Mikkola notched the 14th goal by a Panthers defenseman in the playoffs.