Preview: ECF, Game 4 at FLA

SUNRISE, Fla. - The Carolina Hurricanes will try to avoid another Eastern Conference Final sweep on Monday, when they take on the Florida Panthers in Game 4.

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When: Monday, May 26

Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch (US; CAN): TNT, truTV, Max; SN, TVAS | Learn More | Road Game HQ

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Odds at Time of Publishing, via Fanatics Sportsbook: Canes +145

The Playoffs So Far...

• Round 1: Carolina raced out to a 3-1 series lead before taking a thrilling double-overtime victory in Game 5 to oust the New Jersey Devils.
• Round 2: Despite not having home-ice advantage, the Canes again won three of the first four games against Washington before a decisive Game 5, during which a late dagger from Andrei Svechnikov decided the series for Carolina.

The Series So Far...

• Game 1: Carolina "made too many mistakes" in a 5-2 loss.
• Game 2: The Canes were completely dismantled, losing 5-0 on home ice.
• Game 3: A turnover-filled third period allowed the Panthers to run away with a 6-2 victory.

It Starts With One...

• Four teams in NHL history have erased a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Most recently, the 2014 Los Angeles Kings knocked off the San Jose Sharks en route to the franchise's second Stanley Cup.
• Carolina gave a good run at trying to become the fifth club to pull it off last postseason, when it trailed 3-0 to the New York Rangers in Round 2. The Canes managed to win back-to-back contests to make that series interesting, and will lean on that experience as they seek to do the improbable against the Panthers.
• One area Carolina can draw some confidence? The Hurricanes are 12-10 all-time when facing elimination, and their .546 win percentage in that scenario is third-best among all-time NHL teams with at least 20 such games played.

Youth Movement...

• The Canes had four rookies (Jackson Blake, Scott Morrow, Alexander Nikishin, and Logan Stankoven) in their lineup for Game 3, and Rod Brind'Amour said that they were among the team's best players.
• Stankoven became the first NHL rookie to record a point in both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals by scoring during Saturday's second period. The first-year forward produced two points during Dallas' trip to the WCF last year.
• Nikishin played 18:54 in just his second NHL game of any fashion, and visibly was much more comfortable than his inaugural outing in Round 2, Game 5.

In Net...

• Rod Brind'Amour said he wanted to "change the vibe" for Game 3, turning to Pyotr Kochetkov after Frederik Andersen had been the team's ace thus far this postseason.
• Through 40 minutes, Kochetkov gave the Canes what they needed on Saturday, but the team in front of him crumbled in the third period, and it was another "it wouldn't have mattered who was in net" situation.
• Brind'Amour did not commit to one or the other when asked who would start Game 4 on Sunday. The Canes are set to hold a morning skate on Monday.

On The Other Side...

• Winners of four straight games dating back to their second-round victory over Toronto, the vibes are incredibly high for the team with a 3-0 series lead. Aleksander Barkov said after Game 3, "The confidence level is high. Everyone is having fun right now."
• The defending Stanley Cup Champions have now outscored Carolina 16-4 and displayed zero weaknesses throughout. Forward Evan Rodrigues leads the team with six points in the series, and there are eight Panthers with at least three points in the three games.
• Heating up in net, Sergei Bobrovsky has a .947 save percentage in the best-of-seven and has come up with several timely stops for his team, including a second-period side-to-side denial of Logan Stankoven to keep his team in front in Game 3.

Injury Updates

• Defenseman Sean Walker did not play in Game 3 due to an undisclosed injury. He took part in morning skate and pre-game warmups, but was not healthy enough to partake in the contest.
• Defenseman Jalen Chatfield has missed the team's last four games due to an undisclosed injury. He was called "day-to-day" before Game 3.
• Forward Jesper Fast was ruled out for the 2024-25 season in August after having neck surgery.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes will wear their white uniforms on the road throughout the postseason.

What's Next After This Game?

• If the Canes win, they are scheduled to practice on Tuesday and will host Florida for Game 5 on Wednesday. If the Canes lose, exit interviews will be held in the following days.
• Next Game (if necessary): Wednesday, May 28 | ECF, Game 5 vs. Florida | 8:00 p.m. ET | Tickets | Parking