Florida Panthers get injury boost ahead of Game 4 as Paul Maurice reflects on playoff pressure

The Florida Panthers are one step away from reaching their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, and they just got a much-needed boost. Head coach Paul Maurice confirmed that defenseman Niko Mikkola and forward A.J.Greer are likely to be available for Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, a potential series-clinching showdown.The Panthers dominated Game 3 with a stunning 6-2 win, thanks to a five-goal outburst in the third period. Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola led the charge, with each scoring twice. Jesper Boqvist added a goal and two assists, while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall with 23 saves. Florida now leads the Eastern Conference Final series 3-0.Despite missing forward Sam Reinhart due to a lower-body injury, the Panthers didn’t miss a beat. But the win wasn’t entirely smooth sailing. Greer exited midway through the third period, and Mikkola suffered a nasty crash into the boards after losing his balance. Both injuries caused concern heading into Game 4.Fortunately, there’s optimism now. “Mikkola and Greer should be good to go for Game 4, per Maurice. We’ll see how things look in the morning,” reported Jameson Olive, the team’s Sr. Digital Content Manager, on X.Mikkola has been a key defensive presence in the postseason, notching 3 goals, 2 assists, and maintaining a +6 rating across 15 playoff games. Greer, in his first NHL postseason, has chipped in with 2 goals and an assist in 11 games. Their return could prove vital as the Panthers aim to close out the series at home in Sunrise, Florida.Following Game 3, Paul Maurice emphasized the importance of experience and composure in high-stakes playoff scenarios. Drawing from past heartbreaks, he noted, “We got up (3-0 against) Toronto two years ago and wanted it so bad that we tried to win the game on every play... you saw last year (in the Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers), got beat 8-1. It’s the same idea.”Also Read: Mitch Marner’s Toronto future in jeopardy as NHL insider suggests free agency departure is likelyMaurice understands both desperation and desire fuel playoff hockey, and Game 4 will showcase that battle. But with health updates trending positive, the Panthers are looking more like a team that’s not just surviving the postseason—but learning how to dominate it.