Taylor Hall refuses to sugarcoat as Hurricanes inch toward 20 year disaster

The Carolina Hurricanes are in serious trouble. They've lost 14 consecutive Conference Final games since 2006, and the 2025 series against the Florida Panthers is not much different. Down 0-2, the Canes need to answer some questions fast. Left-wing Taylor Hall has answered with a strong message of belief and defiance, even as the series heads to Florida. Meanwhile, the Panthers are rolling high although a main injury to Sam Reinhart has the potential to turn everything around for the future.


Taylor Hall pushes back as Canes try to stay alive


Having lost both games at home, the Hurricanes are under pressure. They have not won a game in the Conference Final in close to 20 years, and it is going the wrong way again.



But Taylor Hall is not about to wave the white flag. He made some comments after the Game 2 loss, an attempt to fire up his team and caution the Panthers against getting too confident.

Did Taylor Hall say that thing and implied leafs are bad so panthers must be bad if they took them to game 7 or that the leafs managed to take them to game 7 and leafs are good and we (canes) are as good so we can do it too????

— Passion™ Haver Jana (@Jana168771) May 23, 2025

"Meaning, they just played seven games against the Leafs, right? They're not a flawless hockey team," Hall said following the defeat. "There are things to take advantage of, like any team." His message was clear Carolina still feels they have what it takes.



Head coach Rod Brind'Amour concurred the Hurricanes must elevate their play. The team was flat on home ice and surrendered early opportunities. If they wish to take this series into another game, they'll have to play with a better start and sense of urgency in Game 3. Brind'Amour termed it as a "must-win," with the Canes attempting not to fall behind 3-0.



Also Read: Florida Panthers’ Sam Reinhart Injury Sparks Concern Amid 2-0 Eastern Conference Final Lead Over Hurricanes


Panthers take control but Sam Reinhart's injury looms large

Florida has made the most out of their opportunities. Led by Brad Marchand, the Panthers are a team on a mission. Everything is not all sunshine and rainbows, though. In Game 2, star forward Sam Reinhart went down early due to a lower-body injury. He didn't come back and could miss the remainder of the series.




That’s a major blow for Florida. Reinhart has been a consistent scoring threat and a leader on the ice. His absence could weaken the Panthers’ attack and give Carolina a chance to rally.



As the series moves to Sunrise, one team is fighting history, and the other is battling health. Game 3 could change everything.