In Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals, the Carolina Hurricanes avoided elimination by defeating the Florida Panthers 3–0. The team led by star Matthew Tkachuk missed the chance to sweep the series and clinch a direct spot in the Stanley Cup Final, prompting head coach Paul Maurice to reflect on the result.
Florida has felt the absence of star forward Sam Reinhart, who missed his second straight game after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 2. For Maurice, dealing with those absences has been a significant challenge.
Tkachuk hasn’t been able to make a difference on the scoreboard or break through the solid defense of Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen, who was instrumental in the win, earning his second shutout of the playoffs by stopping all 20 shots he faced in a crucial game for the Hurricanes. In that context, Maurice was full of praise.
Maurice’s message after loss vs Carolina
“You’ll always look at it in your end, and you will be able to find lots of stuff where we were looking for something better. You will always play a slow game when you do that. I am exceptionally happy with the learning opportunity. Give Carolina credit. They were quick, they closed the gap, blocked some shots, hustled real hard. (They) played a great game,” Coach Maurice said according to NHL.com.
Head coach Paul Maurice of the Florida Panthers speaks with the media during Media Day for the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Panthers and the Golden Knights in 2023.
Maurice’s remarks echoed those of Carolina center Sam Bennett, who also praised the opponent’s strategy. “When you’re down, you throw everything at it. You have nothing to lose, and they played a solid game. We didn’t play our best tonight, but we’re still in a good spot,” Bennett said.
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Paul Maurice makes something clear to Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers with cold-blooded statement about Hurricanes
Carolina’s historic achievement
In many cases, winning a single game in a long series doesn’t mean much. However, for the Hurricanes, their 3–0 victory over the Panthers will go down in history, as it snapped a 19-year drought—marking Carolina’s first win in a Conference Final since 2006.
