It finished second in the NHL with 113 points during the regular season.įlorida is back in the conference final for the first time since 1996 after upsetting the Boston Bruins (65-12-5), who won the Presidents' Trophy and set NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points, and the Toronto Maple Leafs (50-21-11), who were fourth in the NHL with 111 points. The Panthers will try to get there for the first time since 1996, when they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche.Ĭarolina overcame injuries to top forwards Andrei Svechnikov (torn ACL), Max Pacioretty (torn Achilles tendon) and Teuvo Teravainen (fractured hand) to reach the conference final for the first time since 2019.

The Hurricanes hope to reach the Final for the first time since 2006. This will be the first playoff series between the teams. 'Once we get into the series, it's kind of a free for all of just playing the game and getting into it,' Jordan Staal said. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour played for Maurice during each of his stints with Carolina and then, after retiring in 2010, got his start in coaching as one of his assistants.Īll of that will be put aside with a spot in the Stanley Cup Final at stake. Eric Staal played 12 seasons for the Hurricanes (2003-2016), won the Stanley Cup with them in 2006 and was their captain for seven seasons (2009-16).įlorida coach Paul Maurice coached Carolina for 11 seasons over two stints (1997-2003, 2008-2011), including a trip to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final, a five-game loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

It will be brothers against brother and old friends turned into foes when the Florida Panthers take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.Įric Staal and Marc Staal of the Panthers will face Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal in the first Stanley Cup Playoff series that includes all three brothers. Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points 4-3 to win first round against Boston Bruins 4-1 to win second round against Toronto Maple Leafs

Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points 4-2 to win first round against New York Islanders 4-1 to win second round against New Jersey Devils.

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