After the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7, the NHL’s final four teams have been decided. The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. On the other side, the Dallas Stars will go head-to-head with the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference finals. This Eastern showdown is a rematch of the 2023 conference finals, where the Panthers swept the Hurricanes. The big question now is whether Carolina can turn the tables this time around or if Florida will make it to the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive year.
Paths to the conference finals:
The Hurricanes secured their spot by defeating the Devils in five games and the Capitals in five games as well. On the other hand, the Panthers managed to advance by beating the Lightning in five games and the Maple Leafs in seven games.
Leading playoff scorers:
For the Hurricanes, Seth Jarvis leads the way with four goals and six assists, followed by Sebastian Aho with three goals and seven assists. Meanwhile, Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen top the scoring charts for the Panthers, each with three goals and nine assists.
Schedule:
The series will kick off with Game 1 between the Panthers and Hurricanes on May 20 at 8 p.m. on TNT. The teams will then play Game 2 on May 22, Game 3 on May 24, Game 4 on May 26, Game 5 on May 28, Game 6 on May 30, and if necessary, Game 7 on June 1, all airing on TNT.
Series odds:
The Panthers are favored at -125, while the Hurricanes come in at +105. In terms of Stanley Cup odds, the Panthers have a slightly higher chance at +250 compared to the Hurricanes at +300.
Matchup notes from ESPN Research:
The Hurricanes have reached the conference finals for the sixth time in franchise history, with three appearances in the past six years. They have unfortunately lost their last 12 games in the conference finals, with their most recent win dating back to 2006. On the other hand, the Panthers are making their third consecutive appearance in the conference finals, aiming to repeat as champions. Brad Marchand and coach Paul Maurice have been instrumental in the Panthers’ success, especially in Game 7 situations.
Overall, the upcoming series between the Panthers and Hurricanes is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown between two formidable teams. Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses, so it will be interesting to see how the matchups play out on the ice. Not really sure why this matters, but one thing is for sure – hockey fans are in for a treat with this Eastern Conference finals series. Let the games begin!
