Injuries Test Panthers’ Depth as They Eye Eastern Finals Sweep Over Hurricanes

The Florida Panthers are facing a trio of injury absences ahead of their potential Eastern Conference Finals sweep against the Carolina Hurricanes. Key forward Sam Reinhart, who sustained a lower-body injury from a hit in Game 2, remains out for Game 4.

Defenseman Niko Mikkola and fourth-line forward A.J. Greer will also miss the crucial matchup due to injuries sustained during Game 3. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice labeled all three players as “day-to-day” and expressed cautious optimism about their potential return later in the series.

Boqvist, Balinskis Step Up as Panthers Rely on Depth Amid Key Injuries

Despite the absences, the Panthers have capable replacements stepping up. Jesper Boqvist filled in for Reinhart on the top line during Game 3 and delivered an impressive performance, tallying a goal and two assists. His key third-period goal broke a 1-1 tie and triggered a five-goal outburst that solidified Florida’s dominance. Maurice’s lineup decisions reflect confidence in the depth and readiness of the bench to handle the pressure of playoff hockey.

Replacing Mikkola on defense is Uvis Balinskis, a player with solid regular-season and playoff experience. Although he has seen limited postseason ice time, Maurice noted his reliable play and expressed regret about initially leaving him out of the lineup. Mikkola’s absence will be felt—he’s tallied six points in 15 games and contributed significantly on both ends—but the team believes Balinskis can help maintain their defensive stability.

Sturm Replaces Greer as Panthers Seek Sweep and Stanley Cup Final Berth

Nico Sturm will take over for Greer on the fourth line, joining Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich. While Greer logged three points in 11 playoff games, Sturm’s stats have been quieter, with no points in seven appearances. Still, Maurice appears confident that Sturm’s experience and energy can help fill the gap and maintain the team’s physical presence and tempo.

Leading the series 3-0, the Panthers are poised to eliminate the Hurricanes and advance to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. They’ve dominated the series so far, outscoring Carolina 16-4. Captain Aleksander Barkov emphasized the importance of staying focused and not looking ahead. With lessons learned from previous postseason runs, Florida is prepared to seize the opportunity and close out the series with a sweep on home ice.