Panthers’ Eetu Luostarinen leaves Game 5 against Hurricanes with undisclosed injury

The Florida Panthers announced on social media that defenseman Eetu Luostarinen will not return after leaving Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes with an undisclosed injury.

Luostarinen’s injury may have occurred in the first period after an attempted hit on Hurricanes’ forward Taylor Hall, which the Carolina defender struggled to get back up after.

Through 16 games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Luostarinen has four goals and nine assists for 13 points and 23 penalty minutes. In the regular season, the Finnish rearguard had nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points and 28 penalty minutes in 80 regular-season games.

Through six NHL seasons, Luostarinen has 50 goals and 79 assists for 129 points in 374 career regular-season games with the Panthers and Hurricanes. He’s also appeared in 66 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points.

The injury is a huge blow for a Panthers team that’s looking to close out their third-round series against the Hurricanes. Florida went into Wednesday’s game with a 3-1 series lead after winning the first three games between the two teams, then Carolina getting one back with a 2-0 win Monday night in Game 4.

The Panthers are playing in their third straight Eastern Conference Final. With a win over the Hurricanes, they will appear in their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.