One team is on the verge of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year, while the other is facing the prospect of falling short in the conference final once again. This dramatic scenario is the reality for the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes after the Panthers clinched a decisive 6-2 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday night.
The reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers started the series strongly, scoring five goals in each of the first two games and exposing weaknesses in the Hurricanes that hadn`t been revealed by any other team this postseason. In Saturday`s Game 3, it appeared the Hurricanes might have found a solution, heading into the third period tied 1-1. However, the Panthers then exploded with five unanswered goals, emphatically securing the win.
How did both teams perform? Which players should you watch in Game 4? And with a sweep now a possibility, what could Monday`s game signify for both teams, given that one team`s season could come to an end? This analysis examines these questions while reviewing what has been a notably one-sided Eastern Conference Final series.
Florida Panthers: Grade A
The Panthers successfully absorbed the anticipated early pressure from Carolina and quickly settled into their own game. Although they failed to capitalize on their first-period power-play chance, they compensated by opening the scoring with a goal officially credited to Niko Mikkola (though it deflected off Carolina`s Dmitry Orlov) midway through the first period. This was a particularly demoralizing goal for Carolina goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, coming immediately after a solid Hurricanes penalty kill, and it visibly impacted Carolina`s confidence.
Carolina had an opportunity to shift the momentum, however. Towards the end of the first period, Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen`s check sent Jackson Blake awkwardly into the boards, resulting in a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for Luostarinen. This left the Panthers short-handed, missing two key forwards with Luostarinen ejected and Sam Reinhart already injured. Yet, Florida effectively neutralized this extended power play, killing it off and even matching Carolina`s shot count while playing a man down.
Despite the score being tied 1-1 heading into the third period, Florida quickly regained the lead when Jesper Boqvist brilliantly `undressed` (to put it mildly) Dmitry Orlov in a stunning move. Boqvist, stepping in for the injured Reinhart, provided the kind of impactful contribution Florida could only have dreamed of from a depth player.
From that point on, the game belonged entirely to the Panthers. Goals from Mikkola, Aleksander Barkov (capitalizing on yet another turnover by Orlov), Evan Rodrigues, and Brad Marchand extended Florida`s lead to 6-1 midway through the third period, leaving Carolina facing elimination in Game 4. Florida may have concerns about Mikkola`s condition for the next game, as he left in the third period Saturday after colliding with the end boards. However, the Panthers have little reason for frustration given their dominant victory.
Analysis by Kristen Shilton
Carolina Hurricanes: Grade D+
As unofficial Canadian poet laureate Avril Lavigne once pondered one of her generation`s more philosophical questions: “Why`d you have to go and make things so complicated?”
Everything the Hurricanes accomplished through the first two periods of Game 3 suggested they could potentially keep pace with the Panthers. Only to completely collapse in the third period. Again.
Losing Game 3 is particularly damning for the Hurricanes for numerous reasons. Perhaps the most significant is the grim possibility that there may be nothing further they can do at this point. While it`s true the Panthers have previously held a 3-0 series lead and been pushed to a Game 7, as occurred in last year`s Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers… in this specific series, through three games? The Hurricanes have already changed goaltenders, adjusted their lines, and attempted other structural modifications – yet they continue to lose by wide margins and, once again, fell victim to a dominant performance in a single period.
Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
Three Stars of Game 3
1. Niko Mikkola, D, Panthers
Mikkola has truly stood out this series. The defenseman has successfully disrupted plays, led rushes effectively, and generated quality scoring opportunities. He registered two goals in Game 3, marking his first career multi-goal playoff game and just the fourth multi-goal playoff game in Panthers franchise history.
2. Aleksander Barkov, C, Panthers
The captain of the Panthers contributed two goals and an assist. This performance marked Barkov`s 20th career multi-point game in the playoffs, setting a new franchise record for the Panthers.
3. The Panthers` Third Period Dominance
The Panthers exploded offensively in the final frame, scoring five goals to decisively win Game 3 with a final score of 6-2. These five goals represent the most scored by the franchise in any single period of a playoff game. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have now suffered 15 consecutive losses in conference final games since their 2006 Stanley Cup victory.
Analysis by Arda Öcal
Players to Watch in Game 4
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Panthers
Florida`s goaltender has undeniably been strengthening his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy with his outstanding performance this postseason. However, Bobrovsky hasn`t consistently shown his most dominant form in initial potential series-clinching games. He recorded 26 saves for an .897 save percentage in Florida`s Game 5 victory against Tampa Bay to eliminate the Lightning, and only 15 stops (.882 SV%) in Florida`s Game 6 loss to Toronto in the second round, a game where the Panthers could have advanced.
While Bobrovsky was virtually unbeatable in Game 7 of that series as the Maple Leafs collapsed, it raises a valid question about which version of the goaltender the Panthers will see in Game 4.
When Florida had the chance to eliminate Edmonton in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring, Bobrovsky had his poorest playoff outing, allowing five goals on just 11 shots before being pulled in an 8-1 rout. Florida is in a strong position to eliminate Carolina, but wouldn`t it be preferable to finish the series sooner rather than later? Bobrovsky performing at his peak will be crucial for Florida to achieve this.
Analysis by Kristen Shilton
Pyotr Kochetkov, G, Hurricanes
The decision to bench Frederik Andersen was based on the hope that Kochetkov could provide the Hurricanes with a better opportunity to win. For two periods, this seemed to be the case, as Kochetkov benefited from the required support from the Hurricanes` defensive system, an area that had been problematic in the initial two games.
However, the Panthers` five unanswered goals in the third period completely derailed their efforts. The Hurricanes have now conceded 16 goals across three games. This is a dramatic difference compared to the first two rounds, where Carolina allowed a total of 18 goals over 10 games against the Devils and Capitals.
Kochetkov`s performance through the first two periods of Game 3 offered a level of stability the Hurricanes have sometimes lacked. Can they extract positives from the initial two-thirds of Game 3 and translate them into a different result in Game 4? Or will Monday mark the end of their game and their season?
Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
Big Questions for Game 4
Is Florida ready to end this series?
The saying that securing the fourth win in a playoff series is the most challenging exists for a valid reason. The Panthers encountered this difficulty firsthand last season when they established a 3-0 lead against Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final, only for the Oilers to battle back over the following week and force a Game 7.
Have the Panthers learned how to swiftly close out an opponent? They successfully swept these same Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final two years ago in a clean four-game series, showcasing many of the elements currently seen from Florida in this round. However, they also seemed to have Edmonton firmly under control just 11 months prior.
Game 3 was arguably the Hurricanes` strongest performance of the series. If they can channel considerable desperation into their play on Monday, how will Florida manage the pressure from a highly motivated team desperate to avoid an embarrassing 16th consecutive loss in a conference final scenario? The Panthers must not overlook what is expected to be a fiercely contested Game 4.
Analysis by Kristen Shilton
Is this the end for the Hurricanes – and what comes next if it is?
This is a rather loaded question for several reasons, the most evident being: Will Monday mark the final game of the 2025 playoffs for Carolina? If so, what potential implications does this have for the franchise`s future?
The roster construction of the Hurricanes has enabled them to consistently be a playoff team with a credible chance of reaching the conference finals. However, this comes with the significant caveat that the Hurricanes might not be built to advance beyond that stage.
This mirrors a challenge the Panthers faced before implementing changes that led them not only to a Stanley Cup victory but also to the verge of a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. Perhaps the Hurricanes won`t face such a drastic turning point. However, if they concede five or more goals for a fourth straight game while continuing to struggle offensively, it could certainly prompt challenging questions for the organization this offseason in Raleigh.
Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
