The Florida Panthers fell in disappointing fashion to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, failing to close out the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The Cats are still just one win away from their third straight NHL Final appearance, and after their morning skate on Tuesday, Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and company might get some key players back for Game 5.
The Hurricanes finally snapped their 15-game losing skid in the Eastern Conference Final, securing their first win in this stage since the 2005-06 NHL season, when they hoisted the Stanley Cup. They did so in dominant fashion, too—defeating the Panthers by a score of 3-0.
Marchand, Tkachuk, and the Cats had no answers for Frederik Andersen, who returned to the form that had become familiar to fans in Raleigh during the first two rounds of the postseason. The Panthers seemed to be missing a piece to their puzzle — the key to unlocking Carolina’s system.
They might find their groove again in Game 5, though. After the rough showdown at Amerant Bank Arena, the Panthers returned to the ice on Tuesday morning, where Tkachuk and Marchand were greeted by some familiar faces they were pleased to see.
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on before a face off against the New Jersey Devils during the second period at Prudential Center on January 14, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.
“[Niko] Mikkola, [Sam] Reinhart and [A.J.] Greer all skating this morning,” insider Jameson Olive reported on X, formerly Twitter. The three key contributors who were scratched in Game 4 due to injuries, were seen back on the ice during the team’s morning skate.
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Reinforcements
Prior to Game 4, neither Reinhart (11P, 4G, 7A) nor Mikkola (5P, 3G, 2A) had taken part in the team’s morning skate, although it was optional and Olive noted they typically don’t participate in those. However, their sighting on the ice — combined with the concerning loss — could mean their return to the lineup is closer to fruition, which Tkachuk and Marchand would greatly appreciate.
Got ourselves a series
The Panthers were missing their star goal scorer and their breakout defenseman, who has been putting up sensational performances in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the absences on Florida’s side played a role, that doesn’t take anything away from Carolina.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Amerant Bank Arena on March 30, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
The Hurricanes played with urgency and desperation, fighting back with everything they had to claw their way back into the series. The celebrations in Sunrise came to an unexpected halt, as fans had already been salivating at the thought of another sweep against the Hurricanes. But Carolina came up with answers—and the Panthers’ tradition of throwing rats onto the ice was put on hold.
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So far, they’ve done a good job shifting the momentum as the series heads back to Raleigh, but Game 5 will be yet another battle between the Cats and the Canes for a spot in the grand final.
