B/R Staff Predictions for the NHL Conference Finals

And then there were four.

The defending champion Florida Panthers are back in familiar territory in the Eastern Conference Final for the third straight year. They'll be hoping for a familiar ending against the Carolina Hurricanes, who look to finally break through.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers are set to have a rematch of last year's Western Conference Final. That series will feature some of the best offensive stars in the NHL.

So, which teams are moving on? The B/R NHL staff got together to provide their conference final predictions.

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Eastern Conference Final: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images

Jordan Staal and Aleksander Barkov

Given his playing style, Rod Brind'Amour would have been an ideal Panther. But his task again this spring, as it was two years ago, is to get past Florida to earn Carolina's first berth into a Stanley Cup Final since he was captain of the franchise's championship team in 2006. 

The problem is, there's not a lot the Hurricanes do that the Panthers don't do as well or better. I like Florida's goaltending. I like Florida's nastiness. And though the top-end talent may not look as good in a skills competition, I like Florida to revel in the biggest moments.

Three straight trips to the Eastern Conference Final haven't happened by accident. Though I can't see it ending in a sweep like 2023's matchup did, I also can't see Carolina winning four times.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers are making their third straight trip to the Eastern Conference Final. It's the Hurricanes' third time since 2019. This will be a clash of Florida's aggressive forechecking and Carolina's stingy defense.

Led by core stars Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk, Florida is fourth in goals-per-game, but Carolina isn't far behind in sixth, and it has a better power play. The Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen leads all playoff goalies in goals-against and save percentage, but the two clubs are close in penalty killing.

The Panthers' experience in big-game situations could be the difference-maker. They've been here before, know what it takes to win, are relentless when they sense a winning opportunity and don't get rattled if they fall behind in a game or a series.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

- Lyle Richardson

It's hard to pick against the Panthers.

They're the defending champions, they're in the Eastern Conference Final for the third year in a row, they're battle-hardened, and they're the bookies' favorite.

So, let me make the case for the Hurricanes.

Despite all the talk about the Canes being "boring," they're really good as well. Freddie Andersen is finally putting together a postseason run that Carolina fans have dreamed, and their offense-by-committee approach is suffocating. They've been knocking on the door for the past five years, and one can only wonder how many chances they'll have before they finally break through.

The pick here is that they get it done. Florida has been a buzzsaw in the playoffs over the past three seasons, but how much gas will they have left in the tank after such a grueling series against Toronto?

It'll be a very tight and hard-fought series, but the Hurricanes finally get over the hump.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

- Lucky Ngamwajasat

The Panthers are coming into this conference final after dismantling two of the tougher first- and second-round opponents in the playoff field. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes made easy work of the downtrodden New Jersey Devils and the opportunistic-yet-analytically-unsound Washington Capitals.

Both teams have smothered their opponents on both ends of the ice. This'll be a hard-fought series where every puck battle matters. Ultimately, Andersen and the Canes' defense showed they can outlast high-end offense as they eliminated the Capitals in five games. The defending champs have endured some extra long postseasons lately and have a quick turnaround after Game 7.

Considering this series is going to be so close, I'm rocking with the well-conditioned team that has had more time to rest and slightly better goaltending.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

- Sara Civian

Western Conference Final: Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers

Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images

Connor McDavid and Jamie Benn

The dream of an all-Canadian championship round went up in Maple-tinged smoke on Sunday night, but the Oilers have held up their end so far even after being dismissed by many as Pacific cannon fodder for the Kings and Golden Knights.

It gets no easier with a Stars team that has eliminated Colorado and Winnipeg. Dallas ought to enter the rematch of last year's Western Conference Final as a favorite given its depth, skill and the addition of Mikko Rantanen. The Stars are good, and they know it.

But Edmonton still has the best player in the series, not to mention a guy who ought to be named MVP come summertime. If the depth scoring and steady goaltending remain as they've been since Game 3 against Los Angeles, we could have a classic on our hands.

Prediction: Oilers in 6

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

This is the third straight season that the Stars have reached the Western Conference Final, and the third time in four years for the Oilers. It's also the second straight year these two clubs have faced off in the conference final, with the Oilers prevailing the last time.

The spotlight will be on Rantanen and Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who sit one-two in the playoff scoring race. Dallas possesses a deep defense corps led by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, but the Oilers' overall defensive game improved as the postseason progressed.

Goaltending and penalty-killing could be the deciding factor in this series. The Stars have the advantage here with goalie Jake Oettinger sporting superior stats to the Oilers' tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. They have the third-best penalty-killing percentage, while the Oilers are the third-worst.

Prediction: Stars in 6

- Lyle Richardson

This is going to be a fun series featuring some of the best offensive players in the NHL.

McDavid and Draisaitl have been great, but the Oilers' depth scoring has carried them during this run, with the likes of Adam Henrique and Evander Kane chipping in key goals at the right time. Meanwhile, Rantanen would be one of the front-runners for the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Stars are getting healthy at the right time.

The key in this one? Goaltending. As Lyle stated, the goalie stats are fully tipped in favor of Oettinger. His big-game experience in his young career is going to be the deciding factor.

The Stars have everything you could want in a contending team: goaltending, a deep defensive group and talented, point-racking forwards. It's enough to offset the offensive firepower from the Oilers' two Hart Trophy winners.

Prediction: Stars in 7

- Lucky Ngamwajasat

For me, it's simple: We haven't even seen McDavid and Draisaitl at their very best yet, and the Oilers have been increasingly dominant as the postseason rages on.

The power play has woken up, and Skinner returned to net and shut out Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights for two straight games. You don't necessarily expect him to stay consistently elite for the rest of the postseason, but if he and the defense lead by a game-breaking Evan Bouchard can finish this series out as strong as the last two, it's smelling like Cup time in Edmonton.

Prediction: Oilers in 6

-Sara Civian