Two teams are left standing as have reached the Stanley Cup Final.
After the — and even the second — was who hadn’t played postseason hockey in a long time, the conference finals featured some of .
The swept in the West final, and the Carolina Hurricanes got past Montreal in five games. They’ll meet in a final matchup of the two hottest teams in hockey over the past two months.
and no three-peat after were derailed by injuries following three consecutive trips to the final. In fact, both finalists are new after Edmonton got .
What’s happened so far
Vegas got through Utah in six, then won four in a row against the Avalanche.
Ottawa , then responded from a Game 1 loss to the Canadiens to advance to the final for the first time since 2006.
The matchups
The top three teams in each of the four divisions make the playoffs. The other four spots go to the next two highest-placed teams in each conference, regardless of division. All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-seven; the first team to 16 victories wins the Stanley Cup.
— vs. vs., Game 1 Tuesday night.
The favorites
Carolina is a slight favorite at just over even money.
How to watch
Every playoff game will be nationally televised in the U.S on an ESPN or Turner network. The NHL schedule is and a streaming guide 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.
After three rounds of best-of-seven series, the final starts Tuesday night. If it goes the distance, Game 7 could go as late as June 20.
What to know
WEST: No-nonsense John Tortorella the Vegas Golden Knights in late March, and since. Mitch Marner, who was success during his time in Toronto, has been arguably the best player in the postseason.
EAST: The Carolina Hurricanes have rolled through the East, getting and do-it-all play from 2018 league MVP Taylor Hall. After so many disappointing playoff exits, they are hoping to win the franchise’s second championship and first since 2006.
Canada’s Stanley Cup drought will extend one more year. No team north of the border has won it since Montreal in 1993.
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