Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 4

Panthers Poised for Sweep as Hurricanes Face Collapse

The Florida Panthers are a win away from sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes and booking their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. After a dominant 6–2 win in Game 3, Florida has outscored Carolina 17–4 in this series and has exposed every flaw in a Hurricanes squad that entered the playoffs with championship aspirations.

The goaltending gap continues to define this series. Sergei Bobrovsky remains locked in, turning aside 23 shots in Game 3 and making timely stops when Carolina managed to push the pace. On the other end, Pyotr Kochetkov has been overwhelmed in relief of Frederik Andersen. Neither goalie has been able to slow Florida’s relentless transition game or weather their opportunistic finishing.

Game 3 was a microcosm of the series tight early, then completely tilted in Florida’s favor. The Panthers exploded for five goals in the third period, capitalizing on defensive lapses and poor puck management by Carolina. Aleksander Barkov continued to lead by example, while depth scorers like Niko Mikkola and Jesper Boqvist stepped up to punish every mistake.

Carolina looks mentally and physically defeated. The Hurricanes haven’t held a lead in this series and now face the specter of being swept out of the conference final for the second straight year. Rod Brind’Amour’s team has now lost 15 straight games in the Eastern Conference Final a brutal trend that speaks volumes about their inability to rise when it matters most.

Florida, meanwhile, is thriving in every phase. They’re 5–2 at home in the playoffs, have scored 4+ goals in five of their last six games, and are seeing contributions throughout the lineup. Even with Sam Reinhart day-to-day, the Panthers’ offensive depth and defensive structure have proven too much for Carolina to handle.

Best Bet: Panthers Moneyline (-170)

With superior goaltending, home-ice dominance, and total control of the series, Florida is the clear play again. They’ve outclassed Carolina in every area, and this line still offers value given how lopsided the matchup has become.