While the initial rounds of the NHL playoffs saw some unexpected participants and a few upsets, the field has narrowed down to four familiar contenders. As the conference finals are set to begin, the remaining teams are well-known for their recent deep playoff runs.
The Western Conference Final presents a rematch from last year, pitting the Dallas Stars against the Edmonton Oilers. In the Eastern Conference, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have reached the East final for the third consecutive season after winning a decisive Game 7 against Toronto. They will face the Carolina Hurricanes, repeating their conference final series from 2023.
Carolina forward Andrei Svechnikov, who ranks second in postseason goals with eight (behind Mikko Rantanen), acknowledged the intensity of this stage. “We’ve already been in a conference final, and we know what’s going to happen there,” Svechnikov said. “It’s not going to be easy there.”
Indeed, nothing comes easily at this point in the season. Four teams remain, each just eight victories away from lifting the coveted Stanley Cup.
Eastern Conference Final Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday in Carolina at 8 p.m. ET.
The Panthers initially fell behind the Maple Leafs two games to none and failed to close out the series on their first attempt. However, they rebounded strongly on Sunday night, securing a dominant victory in Game 7 against Toronto to earn their spot in this rematch of the 2023 Eastern Final.
Commentary note on the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers, highlighting topics like the Oilers` depth scoring and the Stars` team development.