Florida Panthers Near Sweep Over Hurricanes Despite Injuries

The Florida Panthers are on the brink of sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals, holding a 3-0 series lead and just one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year. However, the team is managing several injuries, with forward Sam Reinhart sidelined since a lower-body injury sustained from a hip check in Game 2; his status for Game 4 remains uncertain as he has not been cleared to play but is actively participating in team meetings and preparing for a return. Defenseman Niko Mikkola and forward A.J. Greer, who left Game 3 with injuries, are expected to be available for Game 4, though the final lineup decisions will be made after the morning skate. Coach Paul Maurice remains cautiously optimistic about the players' readiness, emphasizing a day-to-day approach to Reinhart's recovery while drawing parallels to previous injuries within the team that initially seemed minor but proved more serious. Despite these challenges, the Panthers demonstrated strong performance in their 6-2 win in Game 3 and are focused on closing out the series at home. The team's resilience and depth will be critical as they aim to defend their Stanley Cup title and advance to the finals once again.