Rookies Logan Stankoven and Alexander Nikishin joined forces on the game-winning purpose and Frederik Andersen joined uncommon firm in franchise historical past with a shutout whereas going through elimination because the Hurricanes blanked the Panthers and compelled Sport 5 again on residence ice.
* A Hurricanes win assured no sweeps by means of the primary three rounds in a postseason for the fifth time because the Division Semifinals modified from best-of-five to best-of-seven in 1987.
* The Stars and Oilers will conflict for Sport 4 of the Western Convention Last at Rogers Place, with Dallas trying to attract even. Do you know? The Stars have required at the very least six video games in every of their earlier 9 collection within the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
FREDDY BLANKS FLORIDA AS HURRICANES STAVE OFF ELIMINATION AND FORCE GAME 5
Rookies Logan Stankoven (1-0—1) and Alexander Nikishin (0-1—1) mixed on the game-winning purpose and Frederik Andersen turned apart all 20 photographs he confronted because the Hurricanes captured their first win within the Convention Finals since 2006 and compelled Sport 5 again in Carolina on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET on TNT, MAX, Sportsnet & TVA Sports activities).
* WATCH HERE for full highlights from Hurricanes-Panthers Sport 4.
* Stankoven – who captured the Purple Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the 12 months in 2023-24 with the Texas Stars (24-33—57 in 47 GP) – netted his fifth goal of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, second game-winning goal and have become the primary rookie in Hurricanes/Whalers historical past to register the game-winning purpose in a contest the franchise confronted elimination.
* Nikishin appeared in simply his third NHL sport (common season or playoffs) after the Hurricanes chosen the defenseman within the third spherical of the 2020 NHL Draft (No. 69). He turned the sixth defenseman within the enlargement period (since 1968) to report his first profession level in a sport his group confronted elimination. The others: Calen Addision (Sport 5 of 2021 R1 w/ MIN), Ryan Mother or father (Sport 4 of 2008 CF w/ PHI), Doug Janik (Sport 7 of 2006 CF w/ BUF), Doug Lidster (Sport 3 of 1984 DSF w/ VAN) and Invoice Kitchen (Sport 4 of 1982 DSF w/ MTL).
* Andersen outdueled Sergei Bobrovsky – who entered the competition with the bottom profession goals-against common and highest save share within the historical past of the Convention Finals (min. 10 GP) – en path to his fifth profession playoff shutout and second as a member of the Hurricanes.
QUICK CLICKS
* #NHLStats: Live Updates for May 26, 2025
* Mattias Ekholm could return from injury for Oilers in Game 4
* Stars continue to ‘have all the faith in the world’ in Wyatt Johnston
* Zach Hyman’s ‘wrecking ball’ approach setting Oilers’ playoff tone
* Roope Hintz ‘feeling good,’ hopes to play for Stars in Game 4 of West Final
STARS SEEK TO TIE SERIES TUESDAY BEFORE HEADING HOME TO DALLAS
The Western Convention Last continues Tuesday when Miro Heiskanen and the Stars look to even their collection in opposition to the Oilers at Rogers Place earlier than heading residence to Dallas for Sport 5. Every of the final 5 groups to face a 2-1 collection deficit in a Convention Finals/Semifinals received Sport 4, with the Stars seeking to prolong that streak to 6 following victories by the 2024 Oilers (4-2 collection win), 2024 Panthers (4-2 collection win), 2022 Lightning (4-2 collection win), 2021 Golden Knights (4-2 collection loss) and 2021 Islanders (4-3 collection loss).
* The Stars are not any strangers to adversity – they’ve overcome a 2-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven collection 11 instances of their franchise historical past (11-17), with the latest coming within the 2024 First Spherical in opposition to the Golden Knights (4-3 W). Heiskanen, who had 1-1—2 in Sport 1 in opposition to Edmonton, posted 1-4—5 in these seven contests in opposition to Vegas final yr and ranked second on his team in points (tied).
* Dallas has overcome a 2-1 collection deficit within the spherical earlier than the Stanley Cup Last as soon as earlier than: the 2000 Convention Finals in opposition to Colorado, which noticed the defending-champion Stars battle again from a 2-1 deficit to take a 3-2 collection lead earlier than finally defeating the Avalanche in Sport 7. The Stars can grow to be the fifth non-Authentic Six franchise to beat such a deficit in a best-of seven within the spherical earlier than the Last a number of instances, following the Oilers (2024 & 1990 CF), Blues (2019 CF & 1968 SF), Penguins (2017 & 1991 CF) and Devils (2012 & 2000 CF).
* Throughout the ice, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Oilers will look to maneuver inside certainly one of advancing to the Stanley Cup Last for the second straight yr. Edmonton owns a 21-3 report when main a best-of-seven collection 2-1, together with a 3-0 report within the Convention Finals/Semifinals.
* Nugent-Hopkins (2-5—7 in 3 GP) can grow to be the fourth participant in franchise historical past with a number of factors throughout every of the primary 4 video games in a playoff collection. The others are Leon Draisaitl (5 GP in 2022 R2 & 4 GP in 2024 R2), Wayne Gretzky (5 GP in 1988 CF & 4 GP in 1983 CF) and Connor McDavid (4 GP in 2022 R2).
