For the first time in 19 years, the Carolina Hurricanes have nine wins in a postseason. The Canes fended off elimination on Monday night, shutting out the Panthers, 3-0, in Game 4. Logan Stankoven scored midway through the second, giving the Canes their first lead of the series, before Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal scored empty netters to send the series back to Raleigh.
Frederik Andersen was back in the net after completing a 20-save shutout in his last outing. It was a masterful return to form after rough starts in Games 1 and 2. The rest of the lineup remained in place, giving Alexander Nikishin his first chance to play in Raleigh. The Panthers received a boost as Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and AJ Greer all re-entered the lineup after missing time in Sunrise.
The electricity from the crowd jumped through the television to begin the game, and the home team responded accordingly. With how well they started, the Canes needed to get the first goal. Gustav Forsling turned the puck over in the neutral zone as the Panthers regrouped. Sebastian Aho swooped in and buried a breakaway, placing it perfectly between Bobrovsky's glove and left pad.
The penalty kill got a workout during the period, killing a pair of penalties. The Canes' first power play fell flat, but the group extended the lead late in the frame. Once again, a Florida turnover in the neutral zone ended up in their net. This time, Niko Mikkola turned it over. Seth Jarvis deflected it to Aho, who snapped home his second of the night, doubling the lead before the break as the crowd erupted.
The immaculate vibes were completely wiped away by the Panthers in the second period, and it only took them 30 seconds. Right after the Canes failed on the power play, Matthew Tkachuk redirected a shot with Florida up a man to cut into the deficit. Just 30 seconds later, Sam Bennett set up Evan Rodrigues to tie the game and shock the crowd.
The Panthers continued to ride their momentum, scoring the go-ahead goal soon after. Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand were poetry in motion. Lundell won the draw. Marchand flew in to pick it up. Lundell won a race to the front of the net and redirected Marchand's pass past Andersen. It was a gorgeous goal as the Panthers took the lead and held it through 40 minutes.
The start to the third period was inauspicious for the Hurricanes. William Carrier took an early penalty, but the kill came out and got the job done. Neither side was generating much until the Canes' top line struck again. A brilliant pinch by Shayne Gostisbehere and a touch pass by Andrei Svechnikov allowed Jarvis space to pop home a soft shot over Bobrovsky's shoulder, tying the game at three.
The tie lasted less than four minutes after an incredible individual effort by Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers' captain outmuscled Dmitry Orlov behind the net and deked Eric Robinson out of his skates before setting up Carter Verhaeghe to regain the lead. Try as they might, the Hurricanes couldn't tie it again. Sam Bennett ended it with the empty-net goal, finishing the series in five games with a 5-3 win.
The final result is a tough pill to swallow after how well the Hurricanes began this game. Sebastian Aho was a man possessed during the opening 20 minutes. After his first goal, he didn't even celebrate. He scored and immediately went to the bench. The goal at the end of the period should've been a backbreaker, especially with how poorly Florida managed the puck in the neutral zone.
Instead, the Panthers showed their championship pedigree and quick-strike offense in the second period, as they have several times in this series. The entire game changed with Jesperi Kotkaniemi's holding penalty. It took them 16 seconds to score on the power play and 30 more seconds to tie the game. From there, it was mostly smooth sailing for Florida.
The biggest sour note in this game was the Hurricanes' power play. They had six chances to work in Game 5, coming up empty. It was the same issue that plagued them when the power play was cold during the season. They overpassed to find the perfect shot instead of throwing whatever they could at the net. Andrei Svechnikov was inches away from tying the game late, but missed the net.
It was a sad way to end a rollercoaster of a season. There were plenty of highs and lows to accompany the eight-month journey, though mostly highs. The group was in the headlines a lot, especially from January to March. They made it to the conference finals again and snapped a long losing streak. The party might be over, but the fun is just beginning.
Up Next: While the Florida Panthers prepare for either Dallas or Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final, the Carolina Hurricanes turn their attention to the draft. The 2025 NHL Entry Draft begins on June 27th, with the Canes locked into the 29th spot in the first round. Just a few days later, free agency will begin, signaling the start of the 2025-26 campaign.