The Carolina Hurricanes avoided being swept in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night, defeating the Florida Panthers 3-0 and keeping their season alive. This win, their first of the series, gives them a 3-1 series lead in the best-of-seven matchup, marking their first victory in the Eastern Conference finals since 2019.
The Hurricanes had previously lost all 15 Eastern Conference Final games in their history before Monday’s victory. They had been swept in 2009, 2019, and 2023, and had also dropped the first three games of this matchup against the Panthers. The win marked a turning point for the team, as they now have a chance to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
Logan Stankoven scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the series, assisted by Alexander Nikishin, giving the team their first lead of the series. Stankoven gave credit to Nikishin for the assist, stating, ‘It all starts with him. Great play by him.’ This crucial goal proved to be the turning point in the game.
Frederik Anderson, the Hurricanes’ goalie, played a pivotal role in the victory. He started Games 1 and 2 but was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov in Game 3. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour returned Anderson to the net for Game 4, where he made 20 saves, stopping all shots faced. Brind’Amour praised Anderson’s performance, noting, ‘There were some real tough shots that looked easy tonight. That’s when you know he’s really on.’
The Hurricanes sealed their win with two empty-net goals in the third period, scored by Sebastian Aho and Jordan Stall. Panthers coach Paul Maurice acknowledged the Hurricanes’ performance, saying, ‘Credit to them … they were good.’ The Panthers were also short-handed in the loss, as Sam Reinhart, Nike Mikkola, and AJ Greer did not play.
The Panthers will now have another chance to clinch the series in Game 5, which is set for Wednesday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Stanley Cup Finals are expected to be within reach for one of the teams after this crucial victory by the Hurricanes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter for more updates.