Florida is heading home with a chance to win their second straight conference title

The Florida Panthers are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida earned its latest crucial road win on Thursday, defeating the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.

The Panthers now lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 with the scene shifting back to Sunrise.

The first period of Game 5 was all about special teams and goaltending.

Both teams successfully killed off a power play while their puck stoppers were both excellent.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 12 saves, including New York’s four high danger shots, and Igor Shesterkin stopped eight Panthers shots, two of which were of the high danger variety.

Florida was given a power play during the opening minute of the second period, but it would be the Rangers that capitalized.

A turnover by Matthew Tkachuk as he crossed the Rangers blue line led directly to a Chris Kreider breakaway. His forehand-backhand move beat an aggressive Bobrovsky to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

It took a little while, but the Panthers were able to turn the momentum back in their favor.

Sam Bennett led a rush into the Rangers zone, quickly sliding a pass between the New York defenders and finding a streaking Gus Forsling, who went bar down on Shesterkin with a pretty backhand to knot the score at one.

Florida controlled play for much of the third period once it began, keeping the puck almost exclusively in the Rangers end at 5-on-5.

After great chances down low for Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen were both stopped by Shesterkin, it was Lundell who was able to beat the Russian netminder with a sneaky wrist shot from the right circle with 9:38 left in regulation.

Sam Bennett added an empty net goal for good measure, which proved to be key as Alexis Lafreniere scored with 49.7 to go to give the Rangers some life.

Alas, it wasn't meant to be for the Blueshirts.

Florida now heads back to Sunrise with a chance to advance to their second straight Stanley Cup Final.

On to Game 6.

Here are some thoughts and observations from Game 5 in New York:

Forsling now has points in three straight games and in five of his past six. He’s scored three goals during that span.

That’s goals in back-to-back games for Bennett as he’s up to five in 11 playoff games.

Aaron Ekblad logged an assist on Forsling’s goal, his first point since Game 4 of the Boston series.

Both teams failed to score on the power play, with each going 0-for-3.

Lundell’s goal was his first of the series and third of the playoffs. Through 16 postseason games Lundell has accumulated 11 points.

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