Panthers Look to Pull Even with Islanders in Game 4

The Florida Panthers got a taste of what it's like to win in the postseason.

Now, they're hungry for more.

After staving off elimination with a win in Game 3, the Panthers will look to even up their best-of-five series against the New York Islanders in a make-or-break Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Friday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

"Learning how to win is an acquired taste, and I think [Wednesday] was a first step," Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville said following the team's off-ice workout on Thursday. "But we need to win a lot more than one game, so we've got to find out more. And I look forward to the guys accepting a big challenge."

Erik Haula broke the ice for the Panthers in Game 3 with a power-play goal in the second period that made it 1-0. Then, after New York got the game to 1-1, Mike Hoffman and Brian Boyle each scored in the third to lock in the eventual 3-2 win.

Heading into Game 4, Hoffman is carrying a hot stick. After being held scoreless in Game 1, the 30-year-old has tallied two points in each of the last two games to push his team-high point total in the postseason to four (two goals, two assists).

Hoffman led the Panthers with 29 goals during the regular season.

"Hoff is a unique player," Quenneville said. "He's got lots of ability. He's got some tremendous assets. He shoots it as good as anyone in the league in that area… He's got speed. He wants the puck, wants to score, and wants to make plays. I think this year he's progressed defensively, which adds to his offensive game."

Over the last two games, the Panthers have gone 3-for-8 on the power play.

"I think they've done a good job being together where all of our options are available," Quenneville said of the team's success on the man advantage. "Be it on entries or in zone, we have a lot of options, a lot of different looks."

After injecting five new players into the lineup prior to Game 3, Quenneville was mum about whether or not more changes would be coming in Game 4. He did note, however, that one of the team's ailing stars is on track to return to action.

Florida's leading scorer with 78 points (23 goals, 55 assists) during the regular season, all-star forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who appeared to suffer an injury late in the third period of Game 3, is said to have "made good progress" today.

"Right now we're looking for him to be ready to go," Quenneville said of Huberdeau, who's notched a goal and an assist so far in the postseason.

In net, Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start once again for the Panthers. In Game 3, the 31-year-old veteran stopped 20 of 22 shots, including all six high-danger threats that came toward his crease, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Bobrovsky has allowed just two goals in two of his three starts in the series.

"It helps us tremendously knowing that when we make a mistake he's there to back us up," Panthers forward Noel Acciari said of Bobrovsky, who went 23-19-6 during the regular season. "He's played unbelievable these last three games. We want to play well in front of him and show him how much we appreciate it."

For the Islanders, Semyon Varlamov will also likely make his third straight start between the pipes. In the series, the 32-year-old owns a .923 save percentage.

In terms of offense, Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews are tied for the scoring lead on New York through three games with three points apiece.

"It's win or go home," Acciari said. "So I think everybody in the locker room knows that. And we're not ready to be done yet, so I think we're going to come out with the same energy and kind of build off where we left off."

As it has been for each of the last two games, Game 4 will start at 12 p.m. ET.

PANTHERS NOTES

-- Mike Hoffman posted 59 points during the regular season, including a team-leading 29 goals. The 30-year-old winger also led the team in shots on goal (214) and was tied with Evgenii Dadonov for the lead in goals on the power play (11).

-- Jonathan Huberdeau led the Panthers in scoring during the regular season with 78 points (23 goals, 55 assists). A 2020 NHL All-Star, the 27-year-old also led the team with 21 multi-point performances, including four four-point contests.

-- Aleksander Barkov finished second on Florida with 62 points (20 goals, 42 assists) during the regular season. The 24-year-old also led the club's forwards in average ice time (20:01) and won a career-best 54.28 percent of his faceoffs.

-- In his first season with the Panthers, Noel Acciari netted a career-high 20 goals, including back-to-back hat tricks in December. The 28-year-old also posted 27 points, 121 hits and led all NHL forwards in blocked shots (103).

-- Acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline, Erik Haula registered two assists in seven games with the Panthers before the pause. In 44 career playoff games, the 29-year-old forward has racked up nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points.

-- Sitting at 119 wins, Joel Quenneville needs just four more to tie Al Arbour for second place on the NHL's all-time playoff victories list among head coaches.

HOW TO WATCH / LISTEN

When:Friday, Aug. 7 at 12 p.m. ET

Where: Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON

TV: FSF, NBCSN

Stream: FOX Sports GO

Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM Streaming 932