PNC Arena

Plans for renovating PNC Arena in Raleigh are moving forward with some changes as the cost of construction rises.

The authority wants to pay for renovations by using $300 million in hotel tax revenue.

The deal carries an annual salary cap hit of $2.9 million. That's a bargain price for a player widely considered one of the best defensive players in the NHL. Staal is now under contract through the 2026-27 season.

The Florida Panthers earned their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 27 years by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 to win the Eastern Conference title in a sweep.

Carolina's offense is generating chances. The defense is giving up almost nothing. And they’re down 3-0 to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals anyway.

The Panthers haven’t played for the Stanley Cup since 1996, but can clinch a trip to the title round with a win in Game 4 on Wednesday.

Matthew Tkachuk beat Frederik Andersen in the final seconds of the fourth overtime to lift the Florida Panthers past the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 early Friday to open their Eastern Conference final series.

The Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in overtime Thursday night to close out the second-round playoff series in five games. The winner came on a deflection by Jesper Fast after defensemen had provided Carolina's two regulation goals.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Skeji and Jesper Fast added scores for the Hurricanes. Carolina allowed just one shot on goal in the opening period. Frederik Andersen finished with 18 saves for Carolina.

Wake County opened another mass COVID-19 vaccination site Thursday at PNC Arena in Raleigh. Clinics like this one are designed to inoculate thousands of…