Your Florida Panthers are on the precipice of history. After another destruction of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, Florida sits one more victory away from continuing the greatest run in franchise history. If the Cats win Game 4, they will sweep the struggling Canes and make it back to the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive year.
The Cats would be the first team to do so in non-COVID-19 shortened seasons since the New York Islanders reached five straight championship series in the early 1980s. This franchise is slowly taking another step towards becoming the NHL's next dynasty. Game 3 of this series was tight through the first 40 minutes. Niko Mikkola scored his first of two goals in the first period off a backhand shot.
Logan Stankoven tied the contest at the 14:51 mark of the second period on the power-play. This happened after Gustav Forsling took a delay-of-game penalty for flipping the puck over the glass. In the third, Florida won the game with the common theme of this year's playoff run: single-period scoring avalanches.
The Panthers scored five goals in nine minutes. From the 1:29 mark to the 10:37 mark, Jesper Boqvist, Niko Mikkola, Aleksander Barkov twice, and Brad Marchand lit the lamp. The game was practically over once the team took a 3-1 lead. Barkov and Boqvist had three points each in the win, and Sergei Bobrovsky had another stupendous postseason performance by stopping 23 shots.
Now, the focus shifts towards Game 4, where the Panthers could sweep Carolina for the second time in three seasons. Here is everything you need to know, as well as a few keys that will boost the team's chances of ending this series on Monday night.
How To Watch Panthers vs. Hurricanes, Game 4
Date: Monday, May 26 Time: 8:00 PM ET Venue: Amerant Bank Arena TV: TNT, Tru TV, MAX
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Odds, Spreads, and Total
Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Puck Line
Florida -1.5 (+145), Carolina +1.5 (-175)
Total
5.5 (over -102/ under -118)
Moneyline
Florida -180, Carolina +150
Florida Panthers Injury Report:
Sam Reinhart, C/W: Day-To-Day (Knee)
Carolina Hurricanes Injury Report:
Jalen Chatfield, D: Day-To-Day (undisclosed); Sean Walker, D: Day-To-Day (undisclosed); Jepser Fast, RW: IR-LT (Neck)
Florida Panthers Projected Lines:
- Evan Rodrigues- Aleksander Barkov- Jesper Boqvist
- Carter Verhaeghe- Sam Bennett- Matthew Tkachuk
- Eetu Luostarinen- Anton Lundell- Brad Marchand
- A.J. Greer- Tomas Nosek- Jonah Gadjovich
- Gustav Forsling- Aaron Ekblad
- Niko Mikkola- Seth Jones
- Nate Schmidt- Dmitry Kulikov
- Sergei Bobrovsky
- Vitek Vanacek
Scratches: Mackie Samoskevich, Nico Sturm
Carolina Hurricanes Projected Lines:
- Taylor Hall- Sebastian Aho- Seth Jarvis
- Andrei Svechnikov- Jesperi Kotkaniemi- Jackson Blake
- Jordan Martinook- Jordan Staal- Logan Stankoven
- Eric Robinson- Mark Jankowski- William Carrier
- Jaccob Slavin- Brent Burns
- Dmitry Orlov- Alexander Nikishin
- Shayne Gostisbehere- Scott Morrow
- Frederik Andersen
- Pyotr Kochetkov
Panthers Keys To the Game
The Florida Panthers are one of the best teams in hockey when it comes to playing a solid defensive game, all-around. One of the ways in which they do this is by keeping the opponent away from high-danger scoring chances when they establish time in the offensive zone. One way they do this is by limiting the number of shots on net the opponent has inside 'home plate'. What is 'home plate' you might ask?
Sorry to confuse you with a baseball term. However, the 'home plate' area in the offensive zone is the part inside the slot, where the two face-off dots are across each other, and then the goaltender's crease. As you can see from the chart provided above, Carolina had only four shots on net that occurred inside this part of the zone back in Game 2. This was the same deal in Game 3. Look at the shot report below. While the Canes had a few more, those looks were still limited.
All of Carolina's other shots were from the point, above the face-off circles, or from sharp-angle positions. The farther a team keeps the opponent away from the net, the more difficult it is for the opposition to score. This is one of the reasons why the Canes have struggled to generate offense throughout the series. Keep making it hard for them to get good looks.
If you've done some scouting on the Carolina Hurricanes, you have most likely noticed that they lack the amount of offensive firepower that other contending teams have. The only top-heavy scorers on the Hurricanes are Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Both have been shut down this entire series. In Game 1, Aho racked up six shots, which remains his series-high.
Svechnikov only had one. In Game 2, Svechnikov had none, and Aho's amount plummeted to just one shot on net. In Game 3 on Saturday night, Svechnikov was once again nowhere to be found. He had another 0-for in shots while Aho was only able to rack up two. It's clear that the Panthers have taken away Rod Brind'Amour's best offensive players and have made them look invisible on the ice.
Because of their inability to contribute against this stingy Panthers defense, both have looked very frustrated. Their exasperation has led to some questionable actions by both players in parts of this series. For instance, Svechnikov took this shot at Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 1:
Then, Aho laid this questionable knee-to-knee hit on Sam Reinhart in Game 2. This kept Reinhart out for Game 3 on Saturday night. Whether Aho tried to take Reinhart out of the series or not, you're going to have to do more to have him sit long-term.
If Florida wants to get the sweep, they are going to need to continue keeping the talented duo in check. Make the other skaters beat you, which they haven't been able to do up to this point.
This one is a no-brainer. Although the Hurricanes have been severely outplayed by Florida, you know they won't go down without a fight. One of the most humiliating things that a hockey team doesn't want to experience is getting swept. The opposition is not going to want to have that happen to them. As a result, expect Carolina to come out with the desperation that's expected from a team in a 0-3 hole.
If you rewind to last season, Florida was unprepared for a push back against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. After taking a 3-0 series lead and being on the verge of a sweep, sloppy and undisciplined plays hindered the Panthers. They went from the possibility of getting a sweep to being forced to play a do-or-die Game 7.
They need to come out ready. The Cats have to expect an all-out blitz from the Hurricanes. And, they have to match their aggressiveness. Every punch the Hurricanes throw, the Panthers have to throw back. Show no mercy and don't let the foot off the gas pedal. That is the only way to end a playoff series, and it seems as if the players have learned the lessons from last year.
""It takes four. We need one more. It's the hardest one to win. They're going to be ready, and I know we will as well.""Matthew Tkachuk: 5/25/25 Presser
Notes:
- The Panthers became the third franchise in NHL history to take a 3-0 series lead in a best-of-seven Conference Finals/Semifinals round against the same opponent multiple times(also 2023 CF vs. Carolina). They would join the Canadiens (1968 SF,1960 SF & 1946 SF vs. Chicago;1993 CF & 1976 SF vs. Islanders; & 1967 SF vs. Rangers;1978 SF &1966 SF vs. Toronto) and Red Wings(1956 SF,1955 SF & 1952 SF vs. Toronto).
- The Panthers became the third team in the past 30 years to score five-plus goals in four consecutive postseason games, following the Avalanche (5 GP in 2024 & 4 GP in 2021) and Red Wings (4 GP in 1995).
- Niko Mikkola opened the scoring; it is the fourth consecutive postseason game the Panthers have had a goal from a defenseman, which matched the longest run in franchise history (also 4 GP in 2023). The last team with a longer run was the Avalanche in 2024 (6 GP).
- Aleksander Barkov recorded his ninth assist of the playoffs. His next will make him thefirst player in Panthers history to register three postseasons with 10 or more assists (14 in 2024 & 11 in 2023).
- Evan Rodrigues(0-2—2) also factored in the game-opening goal. He can become the sixth player in NHL history to register multiple assists in each of the first three games of a Conference Finals/Semifinals series. He would join Wayne Gretzky(4 GP in 1983), Elmer Lach(4 GP in 1946), Al MacInnis(3 GP in 1986), Toe Blake(3 GP in 1946), and Flash Hollett(3 GP in 1943).
- Jesper Boqvist became the 14th Panthers player with multiple goals in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only four other teams have had as many players with multiple goals at this stage of a postseason (15 GP): the 1981 Islanders (15), 1993 Kings (14), 1985 Blackhawks (14) and 1981 Flames (14).
- Aaron Ekblad(7-23—30) joined Gustav Forsling(8-22—30) as the second defenseman in Panthers history to record 30 playoff points.
- Niko Mikkola and Aleksander Barkov scored 29 seconds apart – the fourth-fastest two playoff goals in franchise history. The three faster instances occurred in Game 4 of the 2025 First Round (0:11), Game 1 of the 2025 First Round (0:14), and Game 1 of the 1996 Conference Quarterfinals (0:25).
- Niko Mikkola became Florida’s fourth defenseman with three goals this postseason. Only four other teams in NHL history have had as many defensemen with three-plus goals in a playoff year: the 2009 Red Wings (4), 1993 Kings (4), 1988 Bruins (4) , and 1985 Blackhawks (4).
- The Panthers became the sixth team in NHL history to score five or more goals in each of the first three games of a Conference Finals/Semifinal series. The others: 1981 Islanders (4 GP), 1946 Canadiens (4 GP), 1972 Bruins (4 GP), 1948 Maple Leafs (3 GP), and 1980 Flyers (3 GP).
- Aleksander Barkov (2-1—3) recorded his 15th point of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and tied Jari Kurri (3 times from 1983-85) for the most consecutive postseasons with 15-plus points by a Finnish-born player.
- Brad Marchand became the fourth active player to record 10 playoff goals against multiple franchises (also 13 vs. Toronto). The others are Evgeni Malkin(3), Sidney Crosby(3), and Alex Ovechkin(2).
- The Panthers scored five goals in a period for the first time in franchise history – three days after the Stars also scored five goals in a period during Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. This is the second time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history that a round before the Final featured multiple instances of a team scoring five-plus goals in a period (also 1984 SF w/ EDM & MNS).
- The Panthers are one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year. The last team to accomplish the feat was their in-state rivals (TBL: 2020-22).
- The Panthers improved to 11-4 this postseason. Only three teams in the past 10 years have collected more wins through their first 15 games of a playoff year: 2022 Avalanche (13), 2020 Lightning (12), and 2018 Golden Knights (12).
- The Panthers have scored at least five goals in each of their past four outings, dating to Game 7 of the Second Round. Just three other teams in the past 30 years have posted a streak of at least that length: 2024 Avalanche (5 GP), 2021 Avalanche (4 GP), and 1995 Red Wings (4 GP).
- Niko Mikkola became the 10th different Panthers player with a game-winning goal in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It tied the most by one team at this stage of postseason (15 GP), alongside the 2022 Avalanche, 2017 Predators, 1987 Oilers, 1979 Canadiens, 1978 Canadiens, and 1968 Canadiens.