From 32 teams in the regular season to 16 in the Stanley Cup playoff field and now just two, the NHL's champions are on the verge of winning the title in 2024.
A year after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers came out to close their story and hoist the Cup for the first time in franchise history.
For the Edmonton Oilers, the Stanley Cup silenced all the “yeah, but” talk about superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and etched their names among franchise greats from five previous Cup teams.
The first game is on Saturday (8 PM ET, ABC and ESPN+). Here's everything you need to know about both teams, from key players to players to watch, goaltender confidence, and key trends for each team heading into the conference finals.
Stanley Cup Wins: doesn't exist
How they got here: Lightning 4-1, Bruins 4-2, Rangers 4-2
Goalkeeper reliability: 9 out of 10
Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid for the Panthers throughout these playoffs. Of course, the team's excellent defensive play helped Bobrovsky. But the veteran's consistent, high-level performance gives Florida undeniable confidence that Bobrovsky will make a big save.
He compiled a 12-5 record in the postseason with a .908 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average. The only playoff starter to average fewer goals per game than Bobrovsky was Boston's Jeremy Swayman (and Bobrovsky ultimately won that battle when Florida packed the Bruins in a second-round series).
Bobrovsky was supposed to be the Panthers' hero during last season's run to the Cup final, but it ultimately wore him down. This year's workload has become more manageable and this will position Bobrovsky for continued success.
What the Eastern Conference Finals Taught Us About the Panthers
Florida is the whole package. The Panthers have star power, scoring depth, elite defensive habits, top-notch goalies, and perhaps most importantly, a natural killer instinct.
The team performed exceptionally well in the third period against the New York Rangers throughout the series, winning the final three games by one goal. The Panthers also outscored the Rangers 5-on-5 in the period, allowing just one even goal while completely neutralizing New York's once-vaunted power play with a stifling penalty kill. And the way Florida kept the Rangers' elite scorers from producing (Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad combining for a single goal through six games) was a byproduct of the Panthers' full-team buy-in on defense.
At the same time, Florida can be lethal in a pinch while also being an equally powerful deterrent to the possibility of going in the opposite direction. Their ability to make New York pay for their mistakes was another setback for the Rangers, who couldn't find the same opportunities to do damage. Florida offers few luxurious looks, and Bobrovsky stands tall against the most notable breakdowns.
The Panthers defeated the Rangers to advance to their second straight Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year by handling the Rangers in Game 6.
Players who will be key in the cup final
One of Florida's strengths may be its defense in a collective sense. But with players like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman looking to attack, the Panthers' defenders will certainly be in the spotlight.
Gustav Forsling had a stellar postseason against the toughest of opponent matchups and also contributed offensively (4 goals and 11 points). Brandon Montour's physicality and active stick breaking up rushing opportunities was invaluable. Florida plays good defense and is aggressive at keeping shooters outside and limiting action in the slot.
This is very important to prevent oiler behavior. Aaron Ekblad should also play a key role in stabilizing Florida on the back end, and he will sit out the Cup Final this year with a broken foot. It's a definite improvement.
Player in need of improvement
Carter Verhaeghe has been Florida's starter in the early postseason. But his production is declining. Berghege scored five goals in five games with Tampa Bay, but his total since then is only four goals. He had just two shots on goal in the final two games of the conference finals and was barely noticeable in helping the Panthers create chances around the net (although Igor Shesterkin made a notable save on Verhaeghe in Game 6).
That means Verhaeghe will need to recapture his first series form in the cup final. There will be a laundry list of capable scorers on the other side of the ice, and some clearly elite talent as well. And the Panthers can't afford any passengers in their group. Verhaeghe could be a difference-maker for Florida and lead the offense. Now it's time for him to change gears.
Do the Panthers have a coaching edge?
The Cup finals feature two coaches from opposite ends of the NHL spectrum. Florida coach Paul Morris has been in the league for 20 years and has now been to three Cup Finals (twice for Florida). Edmonton's Kris Knoblauch replaced Jay Woodcroft for his first league gig in November and hasn't even coached a full NHL season yet. Will experience affect either one?
The Oilers have responded well to Knoblauch and his on-ice success since taking over has been very evident. However, when equal opponents like Florida and Edmonton clash, there is usually a more intangible X-factor that comes into play to separate the sides. These include making important line changes, knowing when to take a timeout, and being able to read your team's attitude and adjust accordingly. All of this will be heightened when you factor in the stakes of a cup final.
We've already seen in the playoffs how timely coaching decisions helped secure wins in fierce competition. There is very little room for error in this series. The edge may not belong to the person sitting on the bench, but to the person standing behind it.
Stanley Cup Wins: 1990, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1984
How they got here: Kings 4-1, Canucks 4-3, Stars 4-2
Goalkeeper reliability: 9 out of 10
There were certainly questions about Stuart Skinner early this postseason. However, his performance after Game 6 of the second round only served to cause problems for the Oilers in the defensive zone. They enter the Stanley Cup Finals allowing just 25.1 shots per game, the third-fewest among 2024 playoff teams.
With a penalty kill that held the Dallas Stars scoreless in the conference finals, the Oilers have one of the strongest defensive identities in the league.
Complementing this with a consistent version of Skinner, who averaged 1.95 goals against the Stars, only adds to the argument that the Oilers may be the most complete team in the playoffs.
What the Western Conference Finals Taught Us About the Oilers
Anyone who still believes this team is Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid wasn't paying attention. The path they took to beat the Stars in the Western Conference Finals is proof of that.
In the Oilers' wins in Games 4 and 5, they received key goals from players like Mattias Janmark, Ryan McLeod, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Philip Broberg. Their penalty kill was perfect against the Stars, including going 3-for-3 in the crucial Game 6.
They have developed a two-way identity that allows them to comfortably play in one-goal games, including a shutout in Game 6. They have made goal prevention an important factor in their success and this will only make the upcoming match stand out even more. The threat is that the Oilers could score four or more goals in a game.
A team considered an offensive juggernaut has shown that it can be a complete package.
Players who will be key in the cup final
The Oilers have elite forwards Draisaitl and McDavid, who have four Hart Trophies. But again, they are much more than that.
Jack Hyman has given them a predictable winger who can control the front of the net. They have a puck-moving defenseman in Evan Bouchard who, along with Mattias Ekholm, gives the Oilers a reliable top pairing.
This postseason, Nugent-Hopkins' profile as a two-way player has risen due to what he has been able to do at 5-on-5, on the penalty kill and on the power play. He could be the most important forward not named Draisaitl or McDavid.
There's also what Darnell Nurse accomplished against Dallas. He finished the series by going from someone under scrutiny to one of the Oilers' most consistent players. That includes going 21-plus minutes in Game 6 with three hits and no goals. That version of Nurse would play a key role in winning the franchise its first title since 1990.
Congratulations to the Oilers on advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Oilers held on to defeat the Stars in a hustling finish to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
A player who needs to improve further
Evander Kane. At his best, Kane is a physical power forward who can cause problems in the slot and at the front of the net, with a shot that can make him dangerous from the perimeter as well. This made him one of the NHL's most consistent goal scorers, with 20-plus seasons in nine seasons.
This is also what makes his recent scoring drought (six straight games, returning in Game 7 of the second round against the Vancouver Canucks) so puzzling.
Kane opened the conference finals with nine shots in the first two games, then had a combined four shots in Games 3, 4, and 5. As a result, in the 5th game, he went down from 2nd to 3rd. His work rate has decreased significantly compared to his first two postseasons with the Oilers.
Kane could get injured while advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. After delivering a check early in Game 6, he skated to the bench and logged only 4 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time over nine shifts.
Hiring Kris Knoblauch may be the latest move in a certain trend.
Moving on from Jay Woodcroft and hiring Kris Knoblauch not only saved the Oilers' season, but also helped them advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in nearly 20 years. Whether the Oilers win the Cup or not, the move raises debate about expectations for NHL coaches in their first season with a new team.
This trend continues when Craig Berube, who has 161 games of NHL head coaching experience, joins the St. Louis Blues. It started in 2019 when he became interim coach of the St. Louis Blues. And won the Stanley Cup in his first of five-plus seasons. With the club.
A year later, veteran coach Rick Bowness led the Dallas Stars to the Cup Finals on an interim basis.
In 2021, interim coach Dominique Ducharme, with no previous NHL head coaching experience, led the Montreal Canadiens to the Cup Final.
Last year, Bruce Cassidy, who has over 500 games of experience, won the title in his first campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights.
This is a trend that continues with Knoblauch, who previously held head coaching roles in the AHL and junior hockey. Knoblauch has a chance to become the first coach since Dan Bylsma in 2009 to win a title in his first year behind an NHL bench.