- Carolina Hurricanes stay alive with a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final.
- Frederik Andersen records a shutout with 20 saves, bouncing back after being benched in Game 3.
- Logan Stankoven scores the game-winner as Carolina plays strong defense and capitalizes on Florida’s injuries.
The Carolina Hurricanes kept their season alive with a strong 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 4. The game took place on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The Hurricanes now trail the series 3-1, but they showed fight and confidence. Their effort kept them from getting swept for the second year in a row by the Panthers.
Carolina looked focused from the start. The players skated hard, blocked shots, and stuck to their game plan. They played with the energy of a team that refused to go home. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour praised the performance and called it the kind of effort they needed. He said the team gave themselves a real chance to come back in the series.
Frederik Andersen Shines With Second Playoff Shutout
Goalie Frederik Andersen stopped all 20 shots he faced. He helped the Hurricanes get their first win in the Eastern Conference Final since 2006. Andersen looked calm and sharp all night. In the first two games, he allowed nine goals on 36 shots. He didn’t play in Game 3, but he returned in Game 4 and proved his value.
Andersen said he loved playing with this team and wanted another chance to win. He felt the team played their best game of the series and earned the reward. His shutout gave the Hurricanes the spark they needed to stay in the fight. He became only the third goalie in franchise history to post a shutout when facing elimination.
Hurricanes Finally Score First and Play With the Lead
Logan Stankoven gave Carolina its first lead of the entire series. He scored at 10:45 in the second period on a great play. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin passed the puck across the ice. Stankoven called for it, got it cleanly, and skated in alone. He then fired a perfect shot over Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s blocker.
The goal changed the pace of the game. The Hurricanes played with more confidence after getting in front. Stankoven said it was important to win one period at a time and stay focused. He didn’t think ahead – just wanted the team to push forward. He now holds the team record for most game-winning goals by a rookie in the playoffs.
Florida Struggles Without Key Players on the Ice
The Panthers missed some important names in Game 4. Sam Reinhart missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Forward A.J. Greer and defenseman Niko Mikkola also sat out due to other injuries. That left Florida short-handed, and it showed in their performance.
Bobrovsky played well and stopped 25 shots, but he didn’t get enough help from his teammates. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said his team looked for perfect plays and slowed down too much. He gave Carolina credit for playing faster, working harder, and blocking more shots. Maurice called it a great learning moment for his team.
Two Late Goals Seal the Win for Carolina
In the third period, Carolina kept the pressure on. They thought they scored at 6:31 when Mark Jankowski put the puck in the net. However, Florida challenged the play for offside. The officials reviewed the video and agreed. The goal didn’t count because Eric Robinson entered the zone too early.
That didn’t stop the Hurricanes. With Florida’s goalie pulled, Sebastian Aho scored into the empty net at 17:49 to make it 2-0. Just 26 seconds later, Jordan Staal added another empty-net goal. The two quick scores put the game out of reach and closed the door on any Panthers comeback.
Brind’Amour praised the complete team effort. He said everything looked solid. He highlighted the penalty kill as a key part of the win. The Hurricanes went 4-for-4 on the kill. Brind’Amour said that’s the type of game they need to play if they want to keep their season going.
Florida Still Holds the Series Lead But Faces Pressure
The Panthers still lead the series 3-1. They can close it out in Game 5 on Wednesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. But the pressure has shifted a little. Now they must respond after losing a game in which they didn’t look like themselves.
Florida forward Sam Bennett said Carolina played like a team with nothing to lose. He admitted the Panthers didn’t play their best and need to bounce back. Even with the loss, Florida remains one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.
