The Florida Panthers are gearing up for a crucial Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes hoping to close out the series and move on to the Stanley Cup Final. Ahead of the showdown in South Florida, Paul Maurice delivered a firm statement to Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and the rest of the team.
The Panthers are looking nearly unstoppable in the NHL thanks to their impressive performances against the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their recent form has done wonders to remind the rest of the league they are the current Stanley Cup champions and will stop at nothing to secure back-to-back cups.
Marchand, Tkachuk, and Florida are only one win away from their third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance, and they seem to have Carolina down to ruins and all figured out. However, the fourth win is always the hardest to secure in any NHL playoff series—and the matchup with the Hurricanes is no exception.
Ahead of Game 4 at home in Amerant Bank Arena, Maurice dropped a stern statement to Tkachuk, Marchand, and company, warning them about the Canes. “They’ve got full desperation on their side. We’ve got full desire on our side,” Maurice stated, per Jameson Olive on X, formerly Twitter.
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers plays against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena on May 24, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida.
One more
The Panthers have cruised to blowout victories in the first three games of the Eastern Conference Final, and though the Cats have visibly frustrated and deflated the Hurricanes, Carolina is still standing—hobbling, yes—but a win on the road could throw them right back into the fight. The Hurricanes will look to snap a 15-game losing streak in this stage of the postseason, dating back to 2009.
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NHL News: Brad Marchand delivers stern reminder to Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers after blowout victory vs Hurricanes
“It’s a seven-game series,” star Matthew Tkachuk reminded reporters during his press conference. “We’ve won three, but it doesn’t take three to win a series. That’s the simplest answer I’ve got. It takes four [wins]. We need one more. It’s the hardest one to win. They’re going to be ready, and I know we will as well.”
“You don’t think about [closing out a series],” Marchand admitted. “We’re prepared to go seven here. I think the biggest thing for this group is we’re really good at just focusing on what we need to do and staying in the moment and not looking ahead. You can’t start looking ahead.”
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers walks to the ice before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 16, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida
Short-handed
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, Tkachuk and Marchand will be without key teammates as an injury bug has taken its toll in the Panthers’ locker room. Florida will be without star Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer, with Jesper Boqvist, Nico Sturm, and Uvis Balinskis filling in. Though the absences are impactful, Maurice made his thought process clear.
“The determination is that the three guys that I’m playing would perform better than those three men [who aren’t playing] would tonight,” Maurice stated during his media availability on Monday.
