Hurricanes Stave Off Elimination
The Carolina Hurricanes have managed to avoid another sweep by beating the Florida Panthers 3-0 in Game 4, thanks to a stellar performance by Frederik Andersen, who stopped 20 shots for his fifth career playoff shutout.
Game Summary
Logan Stankoven scored the only goal the Hurricanes needed, while Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal added empty-netters to seal the win. The Hurricanes had dropped 15 consecutive East finals games prior to this win, including getting swept in 2009, 2019, and 2023, and dropping the first three games of this matchup.
The Turning Point
The game’s momentum shifted midway through the second period when Stankoven took a cross-ice diagonal pass from Alexander Nikishin at the blue line and skated in alone on Sergei Bobrovsky, beating the Florida goalie over the right shoulder for the 1-0 lead. This goal marked the Hurricanes’ first lead in the East finals since the second period of Game 2 of the 2023 matchup against Florida.
Statistical Significance
A total of 364 minutes, 53 seconds had elapsed in East finals games for the Hurricanes since their last lead, which is equivalent to more than six regulation games. The win was also Carolina’s first in an East finals game since beating Buffalo in Game 7 in 2006, which came on the Hurricanes’ way to the Stanley Cup.
Team Changes and Performance
The Hurricanes switched starting goalies again for Game 4, going back to Andersen, who started Games 1 and 2, then watched Game 3 when Carolina went with Pyotr Kochetkov. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots for Florida, which played without the injured Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer.
What’s Next
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in Raleigh, North Carolina. If Game 6 is needed, it will be back in Sunrise on Friday. The Hurricanes still trail the series 3-1, but this win looks a whole lot better than a potential sweep.
Conclusion
The Hurricanes’ win in Game 4 has given them new life in the series, and they will look to build on this momentum in Game 5. With Andersen’s strong performance in the net and the team’s ability to keep the Panthers’ offense bottled up, they may be able to push the series to a deciding Game 7.
FAQs
- Q: What was the final score of Game 4 between the Hurricanes and the Panthers?
- A: The Hurricanes won 3-0.
- Q: Who scored the first goal for the Hurricanes in Game 4?
- A: Logan Stankoven scored the first goal.
- Q: When is Game 5 of the series scheduled?
- A: Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Q: Who were the injured players for the Panthers in Game 4?
- A: The injured players for the Panthers were Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer.
