The Florida Panthers are no strangers to challenging situations like the one they’re currently facing. Over the last three postseasons, the team has at least made it to the conference finals, having held five separate 3-0 series leads. In 2023, during their matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers lost Game 4 at home but managed to close the series two nights later. A similar scenario unfolded in the next round against the Carolina Hurricanes, the same team they are currently battling. Back then, Florida secured a series sweep with a last-second goal by Matthew Tkachuk in Game 4.
In last year’s playoffs, Florida held a 3-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning, lost Game 4 on the road, but finished the series at home in Game 5. Then came the memorable Stanley Cup Final where the Panthers took the first three games against the renowned Edmonton Oilers, dropped Game 4, and ultimately won a thrilling Game 7 with a 2-1 victory, claiming the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
As for the current situation, the outcome remains uncertain. This is partly due to the status of key players in the Panthers lineup. Sam Reinhart exited Game 2 early, while Nico Miccola and AJ Greer left Game 3 prematurely. Their availability for Monday’s game was only decided shortly before kickoff, according to head coach Paul Maurice.
The projected lineup for Game 4 against Carolina is as follows:
– Evan Rodriguez – Sasha Barkov – Jesper Boqvist
– Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
– Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
– AJ Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich
– Defense pairs: Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad; Nico Miccola – Seth Jones; Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov
Scratches include Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Sam Reinhart, Nico Sturm, and Jaycob Megna.
Recent Florida Panthers headlines highlight Rodriguez’s playoff history achievement in Game 3, updates on injured players Reinhart, Miccola, and Greer, impressive performances from Jesper Boqvist, a commanding 6-2 win over the Hurricanes, and notable ejections for boarding in Game 3.
Photo caption: On May 24, 2025, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, Panthers center Jesper Boqvist celebrates a third-period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Sam Navarro-Immagn)
Fan Take: The Panthers’ resilience in these playoffs exemplifies the drama and unpredictability that make hockey so thrilling. For fans, their ability to bounce back from tough spots keeps the excitement alive and underscores why the sport continues to grow in popularity and intensity.
