Convert a best-of-7 series to a best-of-3 series, Carter Verhaeghe he chased his own rebound into the extra frame before sending a shot past Ilya Samsonov to secure the win in Game 4. Taking the game to overtime, sam reinhart he scored to make it 2-2 with just 2:04 remaining in regulation.
With the action shifting from DC to Sunrise, the series is tied 2-2.
“After a big loss or a big win, you have to turn the page,” Panthers forward claude giroux saying. “We want to take a little bit of that momentum that we had at the end of the last game. I think the last game was probably one of our best games overall, being able to play well against Bob.”
Indeed it was.
Shake up defensive matchups to spark a spark, including the mobile deadline takeover Ben Chiarot to play together Aaron Eckblad — The Panthers successfully held the Capitals to just 16 shots on goal in Game 4, the fewest shots against in a playoff game in franchise history.
With all six defensemen finishing at 50% or better in terms of shot attempt percentage, the Panthers led 49-27 in shot attempts and 21-14 in scoring opportunities going 5-on-5 in the win.
“From the D side, I think we had a little better gap, we were in the zones a little bit earlier,” the Panthers defenseman said. Gustav Forsling, who boasts a team-high +6 rating in the series. “We had a lot of people coming home too, checking and things like that. I think it was a team effort.”
Even though he only had to make 14 saves in the win, Sergei Bobrovsky he made several game-saving saves in Game 4, including stealing Marcus Johansson on a breakaway a moment before he skated to the bench to give the Panthers a 6-on-5 lead just before Reinhart’s tying goal.
Set to return tonight, Bobrovsky has allowed two or fewer goals in two of his last four starts. “He’s playing well right now,” Giroux said. “Every night we’ve played in the playoffs so far, he’s given us a chance to win. That’s what you want from your goalie. that gets the guys going.”
Breaking the score in three of the four games in the series, Verhaeghe, who had a pair of goals in Game 4, leads the Panthers in goals (3) and points (5) in the postseason. After him, Ekblad is the second to score with four points, while eight other players have scored at least two.
With his heroics in the final timeout, Verhaeghe became just the fourth player in franchise history to score a goal in playoff overtime, and only the second player to do so since 1996.
“He is relentless,” Morena said. “He’s ruthless with the pucks. His work ethic is off the charts. He brings a lot of speed. He does a lot of things that allow us to play the game we like to play. He’s a very important part of that identity as a group.” “. and he was on display the other night.”
As for lineup changes, Brunette is sticking with the same defensive pairs we saw in Game 4, but moving the forwards around a bit. Verhaeghe is back on the top line with Alexander Barkov Y anthony duclairwhile Giroux returns with jonathan huberdeau Y sam bennett.
Not on the ice to skate this morning, masons march, who found the back of the net during Florida’s Game 2 win, will be a game-time decision as he deals with a lingering injury. instead, maxi mamin slipped into place on the third line next door anton lundell and Reinhart.
“He’s dealing with it, keeping it, and he’s done a really good job of it,” Brunette said of Marchment’s injury, which caused him to miss some time near the end of the regular season.
Across the ice, the Capitals will try to continue to contain Florida’s top-ranked offense for as long as they can. While the Panthers averaged more than four goals per game during the regular season, they have been limited to three or fewer in three of the four series games thus far.
In Game 4, TJ Oshie scored on the power play to give Washington an early 1-0 lead in the first period, while Evgeny Kuznetsov, following a high hit on Bennett, put the Capitals up 2-1. at the midpoint of the third. period in which he skated across the ice and lifted the puck into the cage.
Washington is 5-for-17 on the series power play, while Florida is 0-for-13.
Led by their 2018 Stanley Cup-winning core, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are tied for first place in the Capitals with five points apiece, while Oshie and John Carlson have scored four apiece.
Despite traveling with the team to South Florida, Tom Wilson, who scored the series opener, will miss his fourth straight game while recovering from an injury sustained in Game 1.
Taking Vitek Vanecek’s place in the Washington net in the third period of Game 2, Samsonov will start for the third straight game. Shutting down 29 of 32 shots in Game 4, Samsonov has posted a 1-1-0 record in addition to a 1.66 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in the series.
During the regular season, Florida won a franchise record 34 home games.
“We talk all the time about the playoffs being a momentum thing,” Brunette said. “It was a great comeback win [in Game 4]. I think we played a pretty good game. Obviously getting that win is important, and then we go back home, where we’ve played really well all year. I think we are comfortable at home. I hope we go out there and play a very good game.”
PANTHERS PROJECTED LINEUP (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Forward
Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Duclair
Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Bennett, Claude Giroux
Maxim Mamin, Anton Lundell, Sam Reinhart
Noël Acciari — Eetu Luostarinen — Patric Hornqvist
defenders
Ben Chiarot-Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling. mackenzie weegar
Brandon Montur — Radko Gudas
goalkeepers
Sergei Bobrovsky
spencer knight
who shot
panthers: Carter Verhaeghe has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last four games. … Aaron Ekblad has four points (one goal, three assists) in his last four games. … Jonathan Huberdeau has three points (one goal, two assists) in his last four games.
Capitals: Alex Ovechkin has five points (one goal, four assists) in his last four games. … Nicklas Backstrom has five points (one goal, four assists) in his last four games. … TJ Oshie has four points (three goals, one assist) in his last four games.
THEY SAID IT
“There’s a lot of emotions going on. You lose Game 3 and you’re down a little bit, but we thought we could come back in this series, and now it’s 2-2. It’s a lot of emotions, but that’s why you play the game.” – Panthers forward Claude Giroux on winning Game 4.
“We can play faster and get back to the way we played the first three games. Even in Game 2, I thought we played pretty well; it was stretches where we didn’t that they capitalized on. We’ve had a good series so far.” — Capitals defenseman Justin Schultz after Game 4.
STATISTICS OF FIVE CATS
– The Panthers and Capitals have combined for 393 hits.
– Eetu Luostarinen has won 18 of their 26 meetings (69.2%).
– Aleksander Barkov leads the Panthers with 15 shots on goal.
– Sam Bennett leads Florida with 23 hits.
– Radko Gudas leads the Panthers with eight blocked shots.
PANTHERS NEWS
– Ladies begin Calder Cup quest after claiming Atlantic Division
– 5 CONCLUSIONS: Cats even series with Caps in Verhaeghe’s OT winner
– NOTEBOOK: Panthers ’emphasize battle level’ heading into Game 4
– Territory Talk: Cats vs. Caps with Ben Raby
HOW TO SEE / LISTEN
When: Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: FLA Live Arena – Sunrise, Florida
Television and Broadcast: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports App, ESPN2
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WOMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM app and 932 broadcast
Tickets: HERE
ACTIVATIONS IN THE ARENA
– Support the Florida Panthers Foundation and try to win big with the 50/50 raffle.
– As part of a special pre-game happy hour, fans can enjoy drink specials, face painting and a jam session with a DJ outside the arena in the City Furniture Patio one hour before doors open.
– Keep your eyes peeled around the arena throughout the game to discover delicious new food destinations, including a mac and cheese bar, pizza stand, kosher food stand, and taco stand.
– The first 15,000 fans to arrive will receive a rally towel sponsored by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Reference-www.nhl.com