The Florida Panthers are right back in the mix, and yeah, it’s getting spicy again. They had their broom out, ready to sweep up the Hurricanes for the second time in three years, but Carolina wasn’t ready to be dusted just yet. Monday night’s 3-0 loss at home? Yeah, that one stung a little. But hey, closing out a playoff series ain’t no walk in the park, even for the reigning champs. The Panthers roll into Game 5 with a mixed bag of closeout mojo: 6 wins, 7 losses over the past two seasons, including a little déjà vu from their road battles this year. From shutting down Tampa in Game 5 to pulling off a Game 7 heart-thumper against Toronto, they’ve been all over the drama map. And now? They’re back in Raleigh where they’ve already dunked the ‘Canes twice with a savage 10-2 combined score.
But hold up. Don’t count out the Hurricanes just yet. Game 4 was their little moment of revival, snapping a brutal 15-game L-streak in conference finals history that went all the way back to 2009. And now, with their backs against the wall (again), they’re trying to channel that comeback magic from last year’s 0-3 rally. Still, let’s not ignore the big news out of Florida’s camp; multiple big-name Panthers are skating back into action, just in time to throw even more heat into the fire. So yeah, Carolina’s rocking that ‘best home team’ badge from the regular season, but with Florida getting healthier and hungrier, it’s starting to feel like the storm might finally run out of rain.
Just before the Game 5 puck hit the ice, Jameson Olive (the digital wizard behind the Panthers’ content game) hopped on X and dropped some lineup heat straight from the locker room vibes. And yup, it’s lookin’ locked and loaded. With a little flourish and flair, he posted the lineup with the caption: “#FlaPanthers lines for Game 5 Rodrigues – Barkov – Reinhart. Verhaeghe – Bennett – Tkachuk. Luostarinen – Lundell – Marchand. Greer – Nosek – Gadjovich. Forsling – Ekblad. Mikkola – Jones Schmidt – Kulikov. Bobrovsky Vanecek,” now that’s a recipe for playoff drama if we’ve ever seen one.
#FlaPanthers lines for Game 5
Rodrigues – Barkov – Reinhart
Verhaeghe – Bennett – Tkachuk
Luostarinen – Lundell – Marchand
Greer – Nosek – Gadjovich
Forsling – Ekblad
Mikkola – Jones
Schmidt – Kulikov
Bobrovsky
Vanecek
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) May 28, 2025
And guess who’s back in the mix? Oh yeah; none other than the big guns: Sam Reinhart, A.J. Greer, and Niko Mikkola! Panthers fans can take a big ol’ sigh of relief ‘cause Coach Paul Maurice gave the all-clear after Wednesday’s morning skate, just in time for Game 5 down in Carolina. It’s like the cavalry rolled in with fresh legs and unfinished business.
Reinhart’s been sitting out ever since that nasty low shot from Sebastian Aho in Game 2, and both Mikkola and Greer picked up their bumps and bruises during that gritty Game 3 dub. They all had to watch Game 4 from the sidelines; yeah, that tough 3-0 L, but now? They’re strapping back in and ready to shake things up again. And well, Florida Panthers’ coach even had a few things to say about their previous loss, all while the star players return to the lineup!
Florida Panthers’ coach makes an honest confession!
Coach Paul Maurice basically gave us a mini TED Talk in hockey wisdom before Game 5. When talking about the return of his trio of grinders and game-changers (Reinhart, Mikkola, and Greer) he put it perfectly: “They’re all different kind of leaders.” Reinhart? He’s the brainiac of the bunch, owning that prep-and-focus game like a silent assassin. “With Sam, in the preparation and mental part of the game,” Maurice noted. Mikkola? Straight fire. He’s got that fierce locker room energy, always ready to light a spark. And A.J. Greer? He’s the muscle and the hustle, a fast-moving, hit-throwing freight train who brings “physicality leadership” that makes everyone stand up a little taller.
NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA Stanley Cup Playoffs-Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs May 18, 2025 Toronto, Ontario, CAN Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice during the post game media conference following a win in game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto Scotiabank Arena Ontario CAN, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxE.xSokolowskix 20250518_tbs_ss9_144
Now, let’s talk power play because yeah, it’s been kinda… meh. Without Reinhart in the mix, Florida’s power play looked more like a busted radio signal than a fine-tuned machine. Maurice didn’t sugarcoat it either, calling it “disjointed.” But now that Reinhart’s back? Expect things to shift. “An elite level of skill,” the coach said, praising Sam’s precision and goal-finishing magic. Maurice added, “They find six inches or ice or they only need six inches of ice,” which is just pure poetry for anyone who knows what those tight playoff plays are made of. Bottom line? Sam’s return might just be the reboot that unlocks the Panthers’ offensive power grid.
And look, losses suck, we know it, they know it. But Maurice wasn’t down about Game 4. In fact, he leaned into the lesson. “You lose a game, there’s a reason for it,” he said with the kind of calm that only comes from NHL playoff miles. He explained that every stumble tells a story, and experienced teams are better at solving those little mysteries. He’s not stressing over Carolina’s tweaks or some deep strategic flaw and just wants his team to stay true to their rhythm and face each day with that seven-game grind mindset. As for Carolina? Still missing key defenders like Chatfield and Walker, which might give Florida just enough breathing room to write their comeback chapter in bold, sharpie-style letters.
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