The Carolina Hurricanes blew through their first two Stanley Cup Playoffs series with ease, facing little resistance from the New Jersey Devils or Washington Capitals.
Through three games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Carolina found itself severely outmatched against the Florida Panthers. The Canes entered Monday night’s Game 4 with 15 straight losses in the ECF, dating all the way back to 2006, when current head coach Rod Brind’Amour scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres.
Carolina looked like an entirely different team on Monday night, blanking Florida 3-0 and snapping their long ECF losing streak, looking more like the team we expected coming into the ECF.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the Canes’ massive victory, which extended their season by at least one more and sent the ECF back to Raleigh.
Stankoven nets eventual game-winner, Andersen perfect after rough start to series
I was shocked to see Carolina trade Mikko Rantanen in March, after previously acquiring him in January. In March’s return, the Canes received rookie Logan Stankoven from the Dallas Stars.
Nearly three months after that second trade, Stankoven is proving to be a key part of Carolina’s future, scoring the eventual game-winner in a 3-0 Game 4 victory over Florida on Monday.
Midway through the second period, Stankoven took a long backhand pass from highly-touted defenseman Alexander Nikishin, skated fast into the zone and fired a high snap shot over Sergei Bobrovsky’s right shoulder. This was Stankoven’s fifth goal of the postseason, tying him for second on the Canes with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.
The Panthers pulled Bobrovsky for an extra attacker late, but Carolina added two empty-net goals – one from Aho, the other from captain Jordan Staal.
Freddie Andersen, who allowed 10 goals between Game 1 and 2 losses, saved all 20 shots he faced in net for the Canes.
As a result of its much-needed response, Carolina heads back to Raleigh for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 28 at 8 p.m.
Canes struggle big-time in Game 2
Maybe there were nerves in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which Carolina lost 5-2. On May 20, the Canes had Game 2 to fight back, but showed virtually zero fight in a 5-0 loss.
Carolina failed to score a goal for the first time this postseason, while Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, Gustav Forling and Aleksander Barkov all netted goals for Florida.
As mentioned previously, Andersen struggled in net for the Canes, saving only 12 of the 16 shots he faced.
Carolina overwhelmed in third period of Game 3 defeat
The Canes entered Saturday’s third period in Sunrise tied with the Panthers, at one goal apiece, giving hope for a Game 3 victory.
Instead, Carolina backup goalie Pyotr Kochetkov allowed five third period goals in a 6-2 loss.
Stankoven scored on a power play to tie things late in the second, only for Jesper Boqvist, Niko Mikkola, Brad Marchand and Barkov put the game out of reach.
Jarvis added a later powerplay goal for the Canes, who left Amerant Bank Arena with more questions than answers.
When does Carolina play next?
The Canes look to close their ECF deficit to one game on Wednesday night, hosting Florida for an 8 p.m. face-off in Game 5. You can bet the Lenovo Center will be loud, while I’m fairly certain the Panthers want to win and get rest for the Stanley Cup Finals.
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