Solely 4 groups stay within the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the final of which being the Edmonton Oilers, who held off the Vancouver Canucks in Sport 7 to maneuver on to the Western Convention Finals.
It’s there the place the Oilers will probably be pitted towards the Dallas Stars, however that Sport 1 will wait till the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers kick off their Japanese Convention Finals on Wednesday night time.
All 4 of those groups are enjoying linked in all phases, which ought to create some thrilling video games to find out who will probably be vying for the Stanley Cup.
Let’s check out each collection to see who could have the higher hand in successful their respective convention.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Chris Kreider, #20 of the New York Rangers, celebrates a purpose towards the Carolina Hurricanes through the third interval in Sport Six of the Second Spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Enviornment on Might 16, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Photos)
NEW YORK RANGERS VS FLORIDA PANTHERS
It seemed just like the Blueshirts had been heading to a Sport 7 with the Carolina Hurricanes, who had been so near tying up the collection after happening three video games to none. Nevertheless, Chris Kreider, the veteran Rangers winger, scored three targets within the third interval to defeat the Canes and transfer on to the Japanese Convention Finals, a spot this group is aware of.
The Rangers made it through the 2021-22 season, when their Stanley Cup desires had been minimize quick by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who ultimately misplaced to the Colorado Avalanche within the Remaining.
Nevertheless, whereas this group has the expertise, the Panthers are on a redemption tour after stunning everybody within the East to win the convention. Nevertheless, the Vegas Golden Knights made fast work of them, successful final yr’s Stanley Cup Remaining in 5 video games.
Florida took down the Boston Bruins but once more after upsetting the President’s Trophy winners final season on their house ice in Sport 7. This recreation they wanted six video games, beating them 2-1 this previous Friday to maneuver on.
Igor Shesterkin, #31 of the New York Rangers, blocks the puck through the third interval towards the Carolina Hurricanes in Sport Two of the Second Spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Sq. Backyard on Might 7, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Jared Silber/NHLI through Getty Photos)
Rangers’ Greatest Power
For the Rangers, it’s really fairly easy when stepping again and looking out past the depth, the ability play prowess and the grittiness on the forecheck. Igor Shesterkin is the most effective goalie in these playoffs.
He owns a 2.40 goals-against common with a .923 save share, which incorporates an absolute theft of Andrei Svechnikov in Sport 6, when the Canes’ sniper had a transparent take a look at tying the sport at 4 targets apiece following Kreider’s hat trick. Nevertheless, Shesterkin was fast to return out of his crease, butterfly into place and swipe away Svechnikov’s fast wrister.
The Panthers and Rangers are going to get their Grade-A probabilities to attain. They’ve been doing all of it all through the playoffs, however having the most popular goalie within the recreation on the Rangers’ facet makes an enormous distinction, similar to that save on Svechnikov did.
NHL ANALYST PAUL BISSONNETTE RIPS OFFICIALS AFTER STARS’ GOAL CALLED OFF, SUGGESTS REF BET ON GAME
Realizing Shesterkin is on the prime of his recreation, Peter Laviolette’s boys can proceed to be very aggressive, even when they’re short-handed in penalty kill conditions.
Panthers’ Greatest Power
Florida’s largest asset isn’t just the depth they possess offensively, however how relentless they’re in entrance of the online and retrieving pucks that didn’t go within the internet. Opposing followers can’t stand how pesky the Panthers are as a result of, even when a goalie makes an incredible save on a scoring probability, the puck could possibly be proper again on him in two seconds with how savvy these Panthers are at retaining the puck within the offensive zone.
Florida Panthers middle Sam Reinhart, #13, Boston Bruins middle Morgan Geekie, middle, and Panthers middle Aleksander Barkov, #16, get right into a scuffle through the third interval of Sport 2 of a second-round collection of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday, Might 8, 2024, in Dawn, Florida. (AP Photograph/Lynne Sladky)
What is just scary for Rangers followers is the truth that Sam Reinhart, who had 57 targets through the common season, has been very quiet. Like Kreider, he thrives across the internet, selecting up free probabilities and shoving them in for targets. He led all gamers through the common season in man-advantage targets, too.
If there may be an space of Shesterkin’s recreation the place he could be shaky, it’s coping with plenty of our bodies in entrance of the online. That’s precisely what Florida likes to do, and it’ll not simply be one man doing it.
EDMONTON OILERS VS. DALLAS STARS
Very similar to the Rangers, the Oilers discover themselves again within the Convention Finals for the primary time because the 2021-22 season, and what’s to not love about seeing Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and all the opposite star energy Edmonton possesses vying for a spot within the Stanley Cup?
Nicely, the Stars actually don’t like it. They need revenge after dropping to the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Golden Knights within the Convention Finals final season, and that sting remains to be there.
Dallas wanted two overtimes to lastly seize the collection win towards the Colorado Avalanche, and so they did so with out considered one of their stars (pun meant), Roope Hintz, who continues to cope with an upper-body damage.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, proper, deflects a shot by Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment through the first extra time of Sport 6 of an NHL hockey playoff collection on Friday, Might 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photograph/David Zalubowski)
Nevertheless, the Stars are seeing contributions from throughout on the proper time of yr, with Wyatt Johnston, Joe Pavelski and Miro Heiskanen, who leads the crew with 13 factors (5 targets, eight assists), working collectively to get by means of their opponents.
In the meantime, the Oilers’ firepower goes with out saying, and whereas McDavid will get all the eye, Draisaitl is main each man within the playoffs with 24 factors (eight targets, 16 assists). McDavid is true behind him with 21 factors, although solely two have come by the use of targets.
Stars’ Greatest Power
Scoring from all strains is the important thing for Dallas, and it comes at a time after they might rapidly run up the rating on the Oilers if they aren’t balanced defensively. Dallas has seen 9 completely different gamers seize a minimum of six factors this postseason, exhibiting how a lot depth they’ve.
They should use that depth towards Stuart Skinner, who has not been dominant within the postseason regardless of Edmonton’s success. He owns a .881 save share and has a 2.87 goals-against common.
The Oilers ended up going with Calvin Pickard for 2 begins on this postseason, and Dallas would clearly like it if Edmonton had the difficulty of selecting which goalie to go towards them every night time.
For this reason getting Hintz again is paramount for the Stars, as a result of the extra Dallas can get the puck on internet, the extra doubtless the scoreboard will mild up. Appears very matter of truth to say, however the Oilers have been inclined to letting video games get away from them previously.
Connor McDavid, #97 of the Edmonton Oilers, awaits a face-off through the recreation towards the Nashville Predators at Rogers Place on Jan. 27, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin/NHLI through Getty Photos)
Oilers’ Greatest Power
The dynamic duo of McDavid and Draisaitl has proven its face all through the playoffs, and if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.
They might not play on the identical line, however you will notice opportune instances when the Oilers will ship out one or the opposite to reap the benefits of good matchups. Nevertheless, the ability play is absolutely when these two go to work together with Zach Hyman.
Nevertheless, regardless of if they’re collectively or not, the McDavid and Draisaitl strains want to supply to win this collection. Draisaitl has the pleasure of working with Evander Kane, who has a knack for elevating his play within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 2022, he was tied for probably the most postseason targets, and he has 4 with three assists this yr.
The ultimate 4 groups are set for the Stanley Cup Playoffs Convention Finals — the Rangers towards the Panthers and the Oilers versus the Stars. (Getty Photos)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Moreover, when McDavid and Draisaitl are on their recreation, guys like Kane, Hyman, Dylan Holloway and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins clear up. That’s the recipe for fulfillment.
Observe Fox Information Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
