Can the Florida Panthers complete the sweep and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year?
They will try to close out what has been, to this point, a one-sided Eastern Conference finals at home Monday night in Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
It hasn’t been much of a series so far, with Florida outscoring the Hurricanes 16-4 over three games. But there is some hope for Carolina: Four NHL teams have won series after falling into 3-0 deficits. Their opponent nearly became the fifth team to squander a 3-0 lead in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, but the Panthers fought off the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7.
Working against a Hurricanes comeback: they have lost 15 consecutive games in the conference finals.
USA TODAY is providing live updates for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes. Follow along:
The Hurricanes, trying to stave off elimination, have another strong period, outshoot the Panthers 12-5. Carolina is getting good breakout and zone entries. They also get their first lead of the series when Alexander Nikishin finds Logan Stankoven as the Panthers were caught with five men on the same side of the ice. Sergei Bobrovsky is keeping Florida in the game with 22 saves, including back-to-back-to-back opportunities in the second period.
Brent Burns off for cross-checking. Panthers need to get something here. Carolina kills the first part, but 11 seconds will remain in the third period.
Nice pass from Alexander Nikishin. Nicer goal by Logan Stankoven, who rips a high shot past Sergei Bobrovsky. It’s the Hurricanes’ first lead of the series. Hurricanes 1, Panthers 0
Jordan Staal hooks Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, who’s called for embellishment. Carolina outshooting Florida 5-0 in the period so far.
Seth Jones goes for hooking Sebastien Aho. Hurricanes get one shot, but Panthers kill it off.
No score in the first period for the first time this series. Frederik Andersen was solid in his return to the Hurricanes’ net, though he wasn’t really tested.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour had called out much of his team’s effort in Game 3. He got a better effort in Game 4. Carolina leads in shots 11-7 with Sebastien Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake each getting two. They also have 22 hits though 20 minutes after not having more than 50 for the entire game in the first three games.
Jackson Blake picks up his second penalty of the game for slashing Nate Schmidt. But Schmidt negates that for roughing Blake. Penalties expire.
Jackson Blake goes off for slashing. Hurricanes kill it off, allowing one shot.
He has stopped all three shots he faced, including an Aaron Ekblad shot that deflected off a Hurricanes defender.
Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov vs. Hurricanes’ Mark Jankowski line.
Game 4 of the Carolina Hurricanes-Florida Panthers series is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Monday in Sunrise, Florida.
Injured defensemen Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker will sit out again.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour is going back to Andersen in net. Pyotr Kochetkov started Game 3 and the game was tied 1-1 entering the third period before the Panthers scored five consecutive goals. Andersen started the first two games of the series, which the Panthers won 5-2 and 5-0.
Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola and A.J. Greer are out for Game 4. Reinhart was hurt in Game 2 and the other two were injured in Game 3. Coach Paul Maurice said all three are day-to-day. Jesper Boqvist has taken Reinhart’s place on the top line. Defenseman Uvis Balinskis will enter the lineup in place of Mikkola, and Nico Sturn will replace Greer.
Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
