Stanley Cup playoffs takeaways: Hurricanes stave off elimination, Panthers miss star forward

The Hurricanes survived their own last stand on Monday, staving off elimination with a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers.

Here are our takeaways from Game 4, which guaranteed the series shifts back to Carolina for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Hurricanes aren't ready to be demoted to tropical storm

The Hurricanes live. But for Carolina to have done more than avoid the inevitable with Monday's win, it must accomplish a feat only achieved four previous times in league history.

The Canes are seeking to become the fifth team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit and first since the 2014 Los Angeles Kings.

Considering Carolina was outscored 16-4 in Games 1-3, and Florida has looked like the NHL's best team throughout the playoffs, it will take a monumental effort for the Hurricanes to join that exclusive club.

But they planted the seeds on Monday. Carolina's third line featuring forwards Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov dominated, ending the game with a 92.31% Corsi for rate in eight minutes and 36 seconds time on ice, by far the shift's best game this series. (h/t Natural Stat Trick)

Panthers miss center Sam Reinhart

Injuries caught up to Florida, with Reinhart, forward A.J. Greer and defenseman Niko Mikkola missing Game 4.

Reinhart left Game 2 with a lower-body injury and missed Game 3. Through 14 games of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Reinhart has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and is plus-four in 281 minutes.

Greer scored in Game 1 and had five hits and two blocks in Game 3, where Mikkola, who is plus-six in his last four games, scored twice.

The Panthers could have given their three key players needed rest before the Stanley Cup Final, but they'll likely be needed before then.