We’re not done quite yet.

The Florida Panthers couldn’t close out the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night, falling in Game 4 to the Carolina Hurricanes by a 1-0 final score.

Carolina played perhaps their strongest opening period of the series, outshooting Florida 11-7 and holding a 9-3 edge in scoring chances, but neither team was able to solve the opposing goaltender.

A quick transition play midway through the game brought us the night’s first goal.

Catching Florida in a line change, Alexander Nikishin found a cutting Logan Stankoven, who skated into the Panthers zone and beat Sergei Bobrovsky over the blocker to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with 9:15 left in the middle frame.

It was the first time in the series that Carolina held a lead.

Moments after a Panthers power play expired during the third period, the Hurricanes thought they took a 2-0 lead on a goal from Mark Jankowski.

Florida challenged the play for it being offside, and replay showed that the play was in fact not legal, so it remained a one-goal lead for Carolina.

Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal added empty-net goals in the final minutes, and that would end up being more than enough for Frederik Andersen, who kept the Panthers off the scoreboard and forced the series back to Raleigh.

On to Game 5.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Florida went 0-for-4 on the power play, while their penalty kill went 3-for-3.

Stankoven became the fifth rookie in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score a goal in an elimination game.

Alexander Nikishin became the sixth defenseman in the expansion era to record his first career point in an elimination game.

The Panthers are now 1-4 under Paul Maurice when holding a 3-0 series lead. 

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Photo caption: May 24, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Scott Morrow (56) celebrate after scoring a goal during the second period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images