After opening the scoring earlier in the game, defenseman Niko Mikkola delivered another clutch moment in the third period with his second goal of the night. When Carolina dumped the puck into Florida’s zone, Mikkola hustled back to retrieve it, advancing the play up the boards. As the Panthers evaded Carolina’s aggressive forecheck, Mikkola seized the moment, jumping into the rush to create a 3-on-2 advantage.
Sam Bennett spotted Mikkola streaking down the left side and fed him the puck. Wasting no time, Mikkola ripped a shot top shelf, extending Florida’s lead to two. That goal held as the game-winner in Game 3, putting the Panthers in firm control of the series with a commanding 3-0 lead.