There are three teams left in the NHL playoffs still in contention for the Stanley Cup.
One is just four victories away, with the defending champion Florida Panthers in the final for a third consecutive year. They got there by beating the Carolina Hurricanes in five games to win the Eastern Conference.
The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars are four games into their rematch of the 2024 West final.
Canada’s hopes of ending the nation’s Cup drought — dating to Montreal’s win in 1993 — rests with the Oilers.
All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-seven, and the first team to 16 victories wins the Stanley Cup. It’s a grind that won’t end until June.
Panthers looking to repeat
The Panthers are looking become the NHL’s first back-to-back champions since the cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and ’21. The last team to do so with full 82-game regular seasons was the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and ’17.
Florida is just the fourth team since 1979-80 to make three or more consecutive trips to the Cup final.
Western Conference final
Dallas vs. Edmonton. Play started in Texas, with the Stars owning home-ice advantage. They won Game 1 before losing the next three to fall behind 3-1 in the series. The Oilers have gotten 14 points combined from two of the best players in the world, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has nine.
How to watch
Every game of the Stanley Cup playoffs is nationally televised in the U.S on an ABC/ESPN or Turner network. The NHL schedule is here and a streaming guide is here. Much of TNT’s coverage, which includes the Stanley Cup Final, will be simulcast on truTV and available on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On. In Canada, games will be showcased on Sportsnet and CBC.
Who to watch
Florida: Brad Marchand is more than a decade removed from hoisting the Cup with Boston, and he was the Bruins’ captain until getting traded to the Panthers at this year’s deadline. He was arguably their best player in Game 7 of the second round against the Maple Leafs and even at age 37 remains a difference-maker.
Dallas: Mikko Rantanen — traded from Colorado to Carolina and then Carolina to Dallas this season — leads all playoff scorers with 19 points. He has driven the bus for the Stars and is must-see entertainment every game given how dominant he has been.
Edmonton: Connor McDavid. The best hockey player in the world had a down season by his standards and dealt with injury, yet McDavid still finished with 100 points. Maybe he was on cruise control waiting for this moment, and the Stanley Cup is close enough to feel again for the three-time league MVP.
Who are the Stanley Cup favorites?
Before the playoffs: Dallas and Florida were listed as co-favorites by BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by Colorado, Carolina, Edmonton and Vegas (tied), and Washington.
After the first round (in order): Florida, Carolina, Dallas, Edmonton, Vegas, Toronto, Winnipeg and Washington.
After the second round (in order): Edmonton, Florida, Dallas, Carolina.
After the Panthers reached the final (in order): Florida, Edmonton Dallas.
When is the Stanley Cup Final?
The playoffs began April 19 to open three rounds of seven-game series in the East and West before the final starts in early June. If the final goes the distance, Game 7 could be as late as June 23.
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