Panthers vs Hurricanes predictions
Looking at the way the Florida Panthers have been rolling in this series, it feels like Sam Reinhart is once again poised to be a game-changer. Reinhart’s combination of slick hands and vision has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses all postseason—don’t be surprised if he pots a goal and adds another assist in Game 5. Aleksander Barkov is setting the tone for this team with his playmaking abilities, and given the momentum Florida has, expect him to pile on another couple helpers. You can almost see the Panthers’ top line growing more confident with each shift. If Reinhart and Barkov keep up this pace, the Hurricanes could have a tough time shutting them down.
Switching focus over to Carolina, all eyes will be on Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho to spark some life into this offense. Jarvis has been showing flashes of brilliance all year, with a knack for finding those all-important dirty areas in front of the net—it wouldn’t shock me if he manages to snag another crucial goal in this elimination game. Meanwhile, Aho’s been the heartbeat of the Hurricanes, racking up assists and generally driving play. He needs to turn those setup chances into points, fast. With Carolina’s backs against the wall, expect Aho to come out hungry, maybe setting up Jarvis or cashing in on the power play. The question is, will that spark be enough to keep Carolina alive in this series?
Given the Panthers’ current 3-1 series lead and how the guys like Reinhart and Barkov have been hitting their stride, my gut says Florida wraps things up right here in Game 5. The Hurricanes will undoubtedly come out swinging, but the Panthers have simply looked like the more complete team. With home-ice advantage tilting the ice slightly in Carolina’s favor, it might get tense, but I’m picking the Panthers to punch their ticket to the finals—maybe by a goal or two in what could be the tightest game of the series. Who’s your pick to come up clutch under the playoff lights?
