Four Teams Left, No Favorites: The Stanley Cup Is Totally Up for Grabs | Deadspin.com

And Then There Were Four

Now that we’ve observed the all-too-familiar Toronto Maple Leafs vanquished in a Game 7 and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning squad eradicated early (this time the Winnipeg Jets), the Stanley Cup Playoffs have reached the convention finals.

These must each be doozies — even with all 4 department champs ousted in the second one around.

In the Eastern Conference ultimate, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers — the lowest-seeded crew closing of the general 4 — face the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s a rematch of the 2023 conflict to succeed in the Final, which Florida gained in a four-game sweep, albeit wanting quadruple additional time within the sequence opener, additional time in Game 2, and one-goal victories within the remaining two clashes.

In the West, the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars meet within the 3rd around for consecutive years. Edmonton gained in six video games a 12 months in the past, remaining out the sequence with 3 consecutive wins.

Here’s a have a look at why all 4 groups are in a position to advancing to the Final amidst what was once an incredible first two rounds of the Stanley Cup chase.

Florida Panthers

The champions till they’re unseated, the Panthers made quick paintings of the Tampa Bay Lightning within the first around however gave the impression at the ropes once they dropped the primary two video games opposed to the Maple Leafs sooner than discovering their shape.

Florida is searching for a 3rd consecutive commute to the championship around, and arguably has a extra entire crew than a 12 months in the past — particularly with its 3rd line of Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarainen, who’ve blended for 10 aims, greater than the Aleksander Barkov-led best line.

Carolina Hurricanes

Andrei Svechnikov, who neglected the 2023 playoffs and remaining assembly with Florida because of a knee harm, has scored 8 aims — 2d handiest to Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars — whilst the Hurricanes dispatched each the Montreal Canadiens and convention champion Washington Capitals in 5 video games.

The oddsmakers are selecting the Panthers, however don’t gloss over the truth that Carolina boasts the most efficient crew goals-against reasonable and penalty kill thus far within the playoffs — largely as a result of goaltender Frederik Andersen has a league-best 1.36 goals-against reasonable and .937 save share.

Dallas Stars

Dallas arguably has long gone during the hardest opposition to succeed in this level, first beating the Colorado Avalanche in seven video games after which taking away the Jets in six.

The kicker is that Dallas has no longer been clicking on all cylinders. Not handiest have the Stars been outscored 38–34, however whilst Rantanen has been a dominant drive, Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene have each failed to attain a target. Key can be for Dallas to proceed boasting lights-out particular groups. The Stars even have the easier goaltender within the sequence in Jake Oettinger.

Edmonton Oilers

We all know the way the Oilers boast the sport’s ideally suited offensive dynamic duo in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. An enormous distinction from the previous is the supporting solid, with the likes of Corey Perry (5 aims), Evander Kane (4 aims), Connor Brown (4 aims) and Adam Henrique (3 aims).

The different new side of the Oilers is their much-improved defensive play, particularly after the primary few video games in their six-game opening-round sequence with the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton’s protection — which is anticipated to obtain an enormous spice up with Mattias Ekholm getting back from harm this around — has been an enormous issue because the crew gained 8 of its remaining 9 video games and closed out the Vegas Golden Knights with consecutive shutouts.