Tank's NHL Conference Finals Preview

Eastern Conference Finals

• M2. Carolina Hurricanes vs. A3. Florida Panthers
• Hurricanes in 7

This is a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, which the Panthers won in a sweep. The sweep belied the series, as the Hurricanes controlled most of the ice time, but Sergei Bobrovsky carried Florida to victory. The first two games went into overtime, including a four-overtime thriller in the opener. Bobrovsky was a brick wall in the series, making 178 saves in four games. 

Both teams come into the finals this year playing their best hockey. The Panthers bounced the Lightning and Maple Leafs on their way to the Conference Finals, while the Hurricanes blew past the Devils and Capitals. The Hurricanes' special teams have been outstanding in the postseason. Their penalty kill has been nearly flawless, with their power play scoring nine times in ten games. The Panthers needed seven games to skate past the Maple Leafs and come in looking to reach the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight season. In the series against Toronto, Brad Marchand, the deadline acquisition from Boston, found his groove with three points in the finale. 

This series will come down to defense and goaltending, and the Hurricanes will skate on to the Finals. Frederik Andersen has been strong throughout the playoffs, stoning the high-powered Capitals attack with a 1.36 goals against average. Look for the Hurricanes' special teams to continue their strong play, as their penalty kill is often the secret to their success. 

Western Conference Finals

• C2. Dallas Stars vs. P3. Edmonton Oilers
• Stars in Six

A rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Finals will see the Oilers seeking to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, while the Stars hope that third time is the charm after losing in the Conference Finals in the past two seasons. No player is hotter than Mikko Rantanen, who leads the NHL with 19 points in the postseason. Rantanen has been clutch for the Stars, as his hat trick in Game 7 against the Avalanche in the first round established him as the player to watch. That was especially true when he had a hat trick in Game 1 against the Jets. The Oilers, meanwhile, come in red hot after losing the first two games to the Kings in the first round. The Oilers have won eight of their last nine, needing five games to eliminate the Golden Knights.   

For the Oilers, the two-headed monster of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl again leads the way. McDavid has 14 assists and Draisaitl has 16 points. Goaltending has always been the Achilles heel of the Oilers, as Stuart Skinner lost his starting job after dropping the first two games to Los Angeles. He regained the job against Vegas after Calvin Pickard was injured and struggled in Game 3, but delivered shutout victories in the last two games, including an overtime win in Game 5. The Stars' reliable backstop is Jake Oettinger, who has been strong throughout the playoffs. With Mikko Rantanen continuing to make the clutch plays, look for Dallas to slip past the Oilers in six games.