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Through the first two rounds, the Carolina Hurricanes looked as dominant as anyone, needing just 10 games to dispatch the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals.

The Eastern Conference finals have been a different story.

Carolina has run into the Florida Panthers, who are showing everyone that they are serious about defending the 2024 Stanley Cup title. Florida has won all three games by an aggregate score of 16-4.

Can the Canes pull off a historic comeback from down 3-0, or are the Panthers headed to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final?

Here are matchup notes heading into Monday’s Game 4 from ESPN Research, as well as betting intel from ESPN BET:

More on Game 3: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers
Game 4 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT

The Panthers, who are up 3-0 in the series, are -5000 to win, while the Hurricanes are +1500 to take the series, per ESPN BET; those numbers are adjusted from Florida -700 and Carolina +425 before Game 3. Florida is also the favorite to win the Cup at -110, and Sergei Bobrovsky leads the Conn Smythe Trophy candidates at +200.

With six goals in Game 3, Florida has scored at least five goals for four straight games, dating to Game 7 of the second round vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s the fourth instance in the past 30 years of a team scoring five-plus goals in four consecutive postseason games, joining the 1995 Detroit Red Wings, 2021 Colorado Avalanche and 2024 Avalanche.

Aleksander Barkov had two of the Panthers’ five third-period goals, and also added an assist, in the win. It is his 20th career multipoint playoff game, breaking a tie with teammate Carter Verhaeghe for the most in Panthers postseason history.

Also scoring two goals in the win was defenseman Niko Mikkola, who had just three goals in 61 career playoff games entering Saturday. Mikkola’s effort was just the fourth multigoal playoff game by a defenseman in Panthers history.

Evan Rodrigues had two assists in Game 3, becoming the sixth player in NHL history to register multiple assists in each of the first three games of a conference finals/Stanley Cup semifinals series (and the first since Al MacInnis in 1986).

The Hurricanes have lost 15 straight conference final-round games, extending their record for most consecutive losses in the round before the Stanley Cup Final (either conference final or semifinals) in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Carolina’s last win in a conference final-round game was June 1, 2006 (a 4-2 victory over Buffalo in Game 7 of the 2006 Eastern Conference finals).

Logan Stankoven finished with a goal and an assist, becoming the third rookie in Whalers/Hurricanes Stanley Cup playoffs history with four or more goals in a playoff year, joining Erik Cole in 2002 and Warren Foegele in 2019.

Carolina must try to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, something only four teams in Stanley Cup playoff history have accomplished in a best-of-seven series: Los Angeles Kings over San Jose Sharks (2014 conference quarterfinals), Philadelphia Flyers over Boston Bruins (2010 conference semifinals), New York Islanders over Pittsburgh Penguins (1975 quarterfinals), Maple Leafs over Red Wings (1942 Stanley Cup Final).


Scoring leaders

GP: 15 | G: 6 | A: 9

GP: 12 | G: 5 | A: 8

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

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‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

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'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

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‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

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'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”

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