RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes kept their playoff hopes alive with a gritty 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night. Facing elimination in front of their home crowd at PNC Arena, the Hurricanes showed resilience, heart, and defensive strength to force a Game 5 and extend the series.
With the win, the Hurricanes trail the series 3-1, avoiding a sweep and injecting new life into their postseason campaign. The Panthers, who had won three straight games to open the series, now head back to Florida needing one more win to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row.
First Period: Carolina Sets the Tone Early
From the opening faceoff, Carolina played with urgency and energy. Just over six minutes into the first period, Seth Jarvis capitalized on a turnover by Florida defenseman Brandon Montour, blasting a wrist shot past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Hurricanes up 1-0.
The goal electrified the home crowd and gave Carolina the early momentum they desperately needed. The Hurricanes continued to apply pressure, winning puck battles and maintaining solid offensive zone time.
Florida responded with a few strong shifts of their own, but Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen stood tall, stopping all 12 shots he faced in the period. The Panthers couldn’t find the back of the net despite two power-play opportunities.
Second Period: Tight Defense and Special Teams Battle
The second period was a defensive battle, with both teams clamping down and limiting high-quality scoring chances. The Hurricanes killed off another Florida power play midway through the period, and their penalty kill unit remained perfect on the night.
Carolina extended their lead at the 14-minute mark when Jesperi Kotkaniemi deflected a shot from Brady Skjei past Bobrovsky, making it 2-0. The goal came after sustained pressure in the offensive zone and gave the Hurricanes a crucial insurance marker.
However, the Panthers didn’t stay quiet for long. With under three minutes left in the period, Matthew Tkachuk scored on a deflection off a point shot by Gustav Forsling, cutting Carolina’s lead to 2-1 heading into the third.
Third Period: Hurricanes Hold On Under Pressure
The final frame saw Florida pushing hard for the equalizer. The Panthers dominated puck possession early in the period and forced Andersen to make several key saves. But Carolina’s defense, led by Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce, did a stellar job clearing rebounds and blocking shots.
With just under five minutes left in regulation, Jordan Martinook scored on a breakaway to restore Carolina’s two-goal lead, giving the Hurricanes a 3-1 cushion. Martinook’s goal, his fourth of the postseason, proved to be the game-winner.
Florida wasn’t done yet. Sam Reinhart scored with 1:42 remaining, bringing the score to 3-2. The Panthers pulled Bobrovsky for an extra attacker and created a few frantic moments in front of Andersen, but Carolina’s netminder shut the door to seal the win.
Key Players and Stats
- Frederik Andersen made 30 saves on 32 shots, anchoring the Hurricanes’ defensive effort.
- Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 29 shots but didn’t get much offensive support.
- Carolina blocked 21 shots and held Florida to just one power-play goal on five attempts.
- Seth Jarvis and Jordan Martinook both registered a goal and an assist.
Series Outlook: Can Carolina Mount a Comeback?
Despite being down 3-1 in the series, the Hurricanes now have some momentum heading into Game 5, which is scheduled to be played at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Tuesday. Teams trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven series have come back only four times in NHL history, but Carolina will now look to make that list a little longer.
Their ability to respond under pressure is a testament to their veteran leadership and playoff experience. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour praised his team’s composure and physical play in the postgame press conference.
“We talked about playing our style, sticking to our structure, and not backing down,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m proud of the guys for how they handled the moment.”
Florida, meanwhile, will aim to regroup and finish the job in front of their home fans. The Panthers have been dominant at home during the postseason and will try to avoid letting the Hurricanes back into the series.
Where to Watch Game 5
Fans can catch Game 5 of the series on TNT and stream it live through platforms like ESPN+ and NHL.tv, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Expect another intense, high-stakes battle between two of the league’s toughest teams.
Final Thoughts
Game 4 was everything a hockey fan could hope for — passion, grit, physical play, and late-game drama. While Florida remains in control of the series, Carolina has reminded everyone that they are far from finished.
Whether the Hurricanes can continue this comeback or the Panthers shut the door in Game 5 remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: this Eastern Conference Finals series just got a lot more interesting.
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