The Carolina Hurricanes have found themselves in the same dire position in the conference-final rematch against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

After a dismal 5-0 loss in Game 2, another sweep appears more likely than not now that the Hurricanes have lost six straight playoff games to the Panthers.

Each one has been worse than the last, but the first five were nowhere near as bad as what happened Thursday, when for the first time against the Panthers in the conference final Carolina looked flustered, overwhelmed and outmatched.

Florida Panthers star winger Sam Reinhart left Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final vs the Carolina Hurricanes with a lower-body injury after taking a hit by Sebastian Aho late in the first period.

The Hurricanes are down 2-0 in their Eastern Conference Final series against the Panthers after Thursday's loss. "I think we're all a little bit at a loss," Taylor Hall said.

The Florida Panthers dominated the Carolina Hurricanes from start to finish to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes meet in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Thursday in Raleigh.

When - 8 p.m., Thursday, May 22Where - Lenovo Center; Raleigh, NC How to Watch - TNT, truTV, MAX, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS

Florida Panthers star Sam Reinhart left Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period and didn't return.

The Florida Panthers have just rolled into Raleigh and embarrassed the Carolina Hurricanes in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Final. In Game 2, the Panthers jumped all over the Hurricanes right out of the gate and cruised to a 5-0 win.