Carolina Hurricanes break 15-game playoff losing streak in East finals

On May 26, 2025, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Florida Panthers 3-0 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, held at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida. This victory allowed the Hurricanes to avoid elimination and ended their previous streak of 15 consecutive losses in the Eastern Conference Finals, dating back to their last win on June 1, 2006. They now trail the Panthers 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and demonstrated resilience as they sought to stay alive in the postseason. In this match, Carolina was led by Logan Stankoven, who scored the first goal of the game, marking the team's first lead in the series against Florida. Stankoven acknowledged Alexander Nikishin’s crucial assist, emphasizing teamwork in a high-stakes game. The Hurricanes made significant adjustments after their previous losses, with head coach Rod Brind’Amour deciding to start goaltender Frederik Andersen again after a game with backup Pyotr Kochetkov, which proved successful as Andersen stopped all 20 shots faced during the game. The match concluded with two empty-net goals from Sebastian Aho and Jordan Stall, sealing the win late in the third period. The Panthers were dealing with absences in their lineup, missing key players like Sam Reinhart, Nike Mikkola, and AJ Greer. This context added another layer of difficulty as they pursued their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite the win, the Hurricanes still face a steep challenge with a 3-1 series deficit. However, this victory is viewed positively by Brind’Amour and the team, as it shifts the focus away from their past struggles in the Eastern Conference Finals. With hope at play, they have a chance to continue fighting when they return home for Game 5 at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on an upcoming Wednesday night, and aim to recover from their deficit one game at a time.