And Then There Have been 4
Now that we’ve seen the all-too-familiar Toronto Maple Leafs vanquished in a Recreation 7 and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning squad eradicated early (this time the Winnipeg Jets), the Stanley Cup Playoffs have reached the convention finals.
These ought to each be doozies — even with all 4 division champs ousted within the second spherical.
Within the Japanese Convention ultimate, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers — the lowest-seeded staff remaining of the ultimate 4 — face the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s a rematch of the 2023 conflict to achieve the Closing, which Florida received in a four-game sweep, albeit needing quadruple extra time within the sequence opener, extra time in Recreation 2, and one-goal victories within the final two clashes.
Within the West, the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars meet within the third spherical for consecutive years. Edmonton received in six video games a 12 months in the past, closing out the sequence with three consecutive wins.
Right here’s a take a look at why all 4 groups are able to advancing to the Closing amidst what was a improbable first two rounds of the Stanley Cup chase.
Florida Panthers
The champions till they’re unseated, the Panthers made brief work of the Tampa Bay Lightning within the first spherical however appeared on the ropes once they dropped the primary two video games in opposition to the Maple Leafs earlier than discovering their kind.
Florida is on the lookout for a 3rd consecutive journey to the championship spherical, and arguably has a extra full staff than a 12 months in the past — particularly with its third line of Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarainen, who’ve mixed for 10 targets, greater than the Aleksander Barkov-led high line.
Carolina Hurricanes
Apr 17, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes middle Jack Roslovic (96) skates with the puck within the second interval in opposition to the Ottawa Senators on the Canadian Tire Centre. Necessary Credit score: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Photos Andrei Svechnikov, who missed the 2023 playoffs and final assembly with Florida because of a knee damage, has scored eight targets — second solely to Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars — whereas the Hurricanes dispatched each the Montreal Canadiens and convention champion Washington Capitals in 5 video games.
The oddsmakers are choosing the Panthers, however don’t gloss over the truth that Carolina boasts one of the best staff goals-against common and penalty kill thus far within the playoffs — largely as a result of goaltender Frederik Andersen has a league-best 1.36 goals-against common and .937 save proportion.
Dallas Stars
Might 17, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) catches the puck within the air as Winnipeg Jets left wing Alex Iafallo (9) appears on through the second interval in recreation six of the second spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airways Heart. Necessary Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos Dallas arguably has gone by way of the hardest opposition to achieve this level, first beating the Colorado Avalanche in seven video games after which taking out the Jets in six.
The kicker is that Dallas has not been clicking on all cylinders. Not solely have the Stars been outscored 38–34, however whereas Rantanen has been a dominant power, Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene have each failed to attain a objective. Key shall be for Dallas to proceed boasting lights-out particular groups. The Stars even have the higher goaltender within the sequence in Jake Oettinger.
Edmonton Oilers
Might 10, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) appears for the puck whereas Vegas Golden Knights proper winger Keegan Kolesar (55) and Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak (27) battle through the third interval in recreation three of the second spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Necessary Credit score: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Photos Everyone knows how the Oilers boast the sport’s greatest offensive dynamic duo in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. An enormous distinction from the previous is the supporting forged, with the likes of Corey Perry (5 targets), Evander Kane (4 targets), Connor Brown (4 targets) and Adam Henrique (three targets).
The opposite new facet of the Oilers is their much-improved defensive play, particularly after the primary few video games of their six-game opening-round sequence with the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton’s protection — which is predicted to obtain an enormous increase with Mattias Ekholm getting back from damage this spherical — has been an enormous issue because the staff received eight of its final 9 video games and closed out the Vegas Golden Knights with consecutive shutouts.
