Did the Carolina Hurricanes` Game 4 victory signal a shift in the Eastern Conference Final, or did it merely postpone the Florida Panthers` inevitable return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year? Monday`s 3-0 win presented a different dynamic from earlier games, with the Hurricanes successfully implementing their core identity.
Every playoff series brings questions. For the Hurricanes, the key question entering Game 4 was how they would perform facing elimination. For the Panthers, it was whether they could complete their first sweep since 2023, when they swept the Canes in this same round. With Game 5 now confirmed for Wednesday, the series is guaranteed at least one more compelling contest. This analysis examines what happened in Game 4, highlights key figures who could influence the series outcome, and looks ahead to Game 5.
Carolina Hurricanes Assessment: B+
Consider the Hurricanes` start to this series. A team built on defensive consistency struggled significantly through the first three games, allowing goals in the first six periods. A shutout first period and only one goal allowed in the second period of Game 3 suggested they might be finding their game, but then they surrendered five goals in the third.
This context made their Game 4 performance, shutting out the Panthers through two periods while allowing only 12 shots, particularly noteworthy. Although Florida had dominated third periods in the playoffs (scoring seven times in the final frame in this series), the Hurricanes held firm. Mark Jankowski`s disallowed goal briefly delayed things, but Carolina withstood a late push from the defending champions and sealed their 3-0 victory with two empty-net goals. This win wasn`t just their first of the series; it might be their most crucial of the season.
Florida Panthers Assessment: B-
Entering Monday, Florida boasted a perfect 5-0 record when leading a playoff series 3-0. They showed composure early in Game 4, matching a desperate Carolina team and outshooting them 11-7 in the first period, despite playing short-handed without Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer due to injuries. The Panthers also struggled with uncharacteristic discipline issues, giving Carolina too many power plays and disrupting their own momentum. A call against Matthew Tkachuk for embellishment further cost them a man advantage in the second period, requiring the team to maintain discipline.
Sergei Bobrovsky was excellent in net as Carolina sent traffic towards him; Florida was outshot 20-8 midway through the game. However, when Logan Stankoven finally scored for Carolina, a Panthers loss seemed inevitable. Florida continued to hinder themselves, notably with Dmitry Kulikov taking a penalty early in the third. The Panthers never gained the traction they had in previous games, and their power play failed to capitalize on any opportunities.
Whether this dip was caused by Carolina`s pressure and strong penalty kill or simply the result of Florida being due for a less dominant performance, the outcome is that the Panthers are heading back to Raleigh with another chance to finish the series.
Three Stars of Game 4
1. Logan Stankoven, C, Hurricanes: Scored the game-winning goal, becoming the third rookie in franchise history with five postseason goals. Carolina holds a 13-6 record when scoring first in elimination games.
2. Frederik Andersen, G, Hurricanes: Recorded his second playoff shutout and second with Carolina, making 20 saves. He joins Cam Ward, Petr Mrazek, and Kevin Weekes as the only goalies with multiple postseason shutouts for the franchise.
3. The Canes` Core: After being challenged by coach Rod Brind`Amour following Game 3, the Hurricanes` veteran and star players stepped up in Game 4, effectively limiting the Panthers and generating offensive chances. This win is Carolina`s first in a conference final game since their 2006 Stanley Cup season, ending a 15-game losing streak in this round.
Players to Watch in Game 5
Brad Marchand, C, Panthers: The Panthers` impactful forward is among elite company for performance in potential series-clinching games. Marchand ranks fourth among active skaters in points during series-clinching contests (7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points), trailing only Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Patrick Kane. He is well-positioned to help the Panthers close out the series. Marchand has one goal in the conference final and played alongside Aleksander Barkov and Evan Rodrigues in Game 4. Known for performing in clutch moments (like his overtime winner in the second round), Marchand`s experience in picking the right time to make an impact will be crucial against a Hurricanes team that tightened up significantly in Game 4 and will aim to repeat that effort. Expect Marchand to be a key factor on Wednesday.
Frederik Andersen, G, Hurricanes: After being replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov ahead of Game 3, it was uncertain if Andersen would play again in this series. However, Kochetkov, despite a solid start in Game 3, struggled during the five-goal third period collapse. This prompted coach Brind`Amour to return to the more experienced Andersen for Game 4. Andersen delivered a shutout, highlighted by making eight saves during a late third-period push by the Panthers. In Game 4, Florida found it challenging to generate the high volume of shots seen in the first three games. Andersen replicating his Game 4 performance, or coming close to it, would give the Hurricanes their best chance to extend their season.
Big Questions for Game 5
Who will be available for the Panthers in Game 5? Florida clearly missed Reinhart, Mikkola, and Greer in Game 4. Having any or all of them return Wednesday would be a significant boost. While Florida`s depth has been impressive (Jesper Boqvist notably stepped up), the Panthers would prefer to be as close to full strength as possible to finish the series and gain valuable rest. Reinhart was their regular-season leading scorer, and Florida is 0-for-8 on the power play against Carolina without him. Mikkola has been excellent defensively and improving offensively. Greer provides dependable fourth-line energy. Coach Paul Maurice has listed all three as day-to-day.
Have the Hurricanes finally found a successful blueprint? Before Game 4, the Panthers had scored nearly as many goals against Carolina in the first three games as the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals combined had scored against the Hurricanes in this year`s playoffs. Carolina`s play in the first two periods of Game 3 was their most consistent stretch prior to Game 4, where they harnessed that consistency for a full 60-minute performance.
However, questions linger before Game 5. Was Game 4 a one-time event, or have the Hurricanes discovered a repeatable formula against the Panthers? Will the Panthers close out the series in Game 5, or could this series mirror their experience against the Edmonton Oilers last year, where they held a 3-0 lead but were pushed to Game 7?
Gareth Tenby