The Florida Panthers, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, are set to complete a clean sweep and secure their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup final when they face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference on Monday. Although Florida fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in last year’s final, they have an impressive record of winning all five playoff series after holding a 3-0 lead, including dethroning the Edmonton Oilers in seven games for their first-ever championship last season.
After dominating the Hurricanes 10-2 in the first two away games, the Panthers headed into the third period of Game 3 at home tied 1-1 but surged ahead with five unanswered goals to win 6-2. Key contributors included Alexander Barkov, who scored twice and assisted twice, defenseman Nico Miccola with two goals, and Jesper Bokvist, who replaced the injured Sam Reinhart and added a goal with two assists. For Carolina, Logan Stankoven netted a goal and an assist but saw the Hurricanes extend their NHL record to 15 straight Eastern Conference Final losses. Carolina has experienced sweeps in this round previously in 2009, 2019, and two years ago.
Florida is aiming to keep the Sunshine State’s streak alive with a sixth straight Stanley Cup final appearance, despite missing key players like Reinhart, Miccola, and AJ Greer due to injuries. Carolina will also be without defenders Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker. The Hurricanes have conceded 16 goals in the conference finals after allowing just 18 in the previous two playoff rounds but hope to make history by overcoming a 3-0 series deficit, a feat only achieved by four NHL teams before.
Notable players to watch in Monday’s Game 4 include Carter Verhaeghe, who scored the first of Florida’s 16 goals in the series so far and has four assists; Aaron Ekblad, who has contributed significantly to the offense since returning from injury; Shayne Gostisbehere, who could be key for Carolina’s offense if they manage to score; and Evan Rodriguez, who has been in excellent form following his return from injury with multiple assists in recent games.
Fan Take: This series showcases the dominance of the Florida Panthers and their quest for sustained excellence in the NHL, making it must-watch for hockey fans eager to see if the Hurricanes can defy history. The intensity of this matchup highlights the resilience and skill that keep the sport exciting and unpredictable season after season.
