A crushing 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their second-round series has the Toronto Maple Leafs facing elimination on Friday. 

Some pundits aren't wasting time speculating about what another early post-season exit will mean for the Leafs.

Following Game 5, The Athletic's Chris Johnston suggested the “Core Four” era of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares could be ending. Marner and Tavares are UFA-eligible on July 1 and might not be re-signed if the Panthers eliminate the Leafs.

Johnston thinks Marner could prefer a fresh start after years of criticism for the Leafs' playoff shortcomings. He also cited the 28-year-old right winger's unwillingness to negotiate an extension during the season and the club's request that he waive his no-movement clause at the trade deadline. 

Tavares must accept a significant pay cut from his current $11-million cap hit to remain a Leaf. However, management could prefer investing that money in younger talent rather than a 34-year-old center whose best years are behind him.

Meanwhile, Johnston's colleague Jesse Granger wondered if the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup window was closing following their second-round elimination by the Edmonton Oilers. 

Granger noted that most of the Golden Knights' core players are 28 or older, including Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, William Karlsson, Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl and captain Mark Stone.

With $10.5 million in projected cap space next season, the Golden Knights have the room to re-sign pending UFAs like Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad and Victor Olofsson. Granger speculated they could use those cap dollars to add a scoring winger like Marner, Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers or Vancouver's Brock Boeser if those forwards test the UFA market on July 1.

Golden Knights' management also has a well-earned reputation for being ruthless while making big moves, even cutting ties with established stars. 

Theodore has a five-team no-trade list on his current contract and a full no-trade on his upcoming extension. Hertl has a full no-move clause for this season, but it reverts to a modified no-trade clause on July 1. One of them could become a cost-cutting trade candidate if management decides a shakeup is in order. 

If This Was Mitch Marner’s Final Home Game With The Maple Leafs, What A Way To Go OutIf this ends up being Mitch Marner’s last home game as a Toronto Maple Leaf, what a way to go out.

Meanwhile, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now was recently asked about potential moves by the Avalanche this summer.

He believes they could pursue Florida's Sam Bennett if Brock Nelson heads to market on July 1. They could ship out a forward like Ross Colton or Miles Wood or a defenseman like Josh Manson or Samuel Girard to free up cap space for other moves.

Deen also thinks Martin Necas' future with the Avs could get interesting if his contract extension talks don't go well. He's signed for next season with an average annual value of $6.5 million and lacks no-trade protection.

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Former Winnipeg Jets centre Sam Gagner has retired from professional hockey and will become the director of player development with the Ottawa Senators.

The 35-year-old played 1043 games in the NHL, recording 197 goals and 529 points. Early in his career, Gagner was an effective middle-six centre with a solid two-way game. Later in his career, he transitioned into a defensive centre and became a veteran presence. Gagner spent one season with the Jets, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 48 games during the 2022-23 season as a 33-year-old. 

The former sixth overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft came within a win of his first Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers last season, despite not dressing for any playoff games. He was brought back to Edmonton to be a strong faceoff man and a depth option if the Oilers faced injury problems. 

Throughout his career, Gagner was widely regarded as a great teammate and leader, which makes the move to director of player development seem like the expected next step. As the director of player development, he'll work closely with the top Senators' prospects.

"Sam has had an incredible career as a player, and we look forward to launching his next chapter," Senators general manager and president of hockey operations Steve Staios said in a statement. "A true character individual, Sam has contributed to the success of his organizations, both on and off the ice."

The London, ON., native has all the makings of someone who can continue to climb the ladder of front-office jobs in the NHL.

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On May 16, 1996, then Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman scored one of the iconic goals in the modern history of the franchise.

Game 7.  Joe Louis Arena.  Double Overtime.

A rare bad touch from Wayne Gretzky, the Great One a St. Louis Blue.  Yzerman grabbed the loose puck and set off right, in no real hurry.  He looked intent on rimming the puck into the Blues zone, but instead, as he crosses the blue line, he winds.  And fires.  And his aim is true.  Ken Kal's voice cracks as he cries out the word "scores" over the radio.

Our 'Best of' series continues! In place of tonight's scheduled game, we've got: The #BestOfDRWvsSTL.

First: May 16, 1996 Steve Yzerman scored the winning goal at 1:15 of the second OT as Detroit won 1-0 over the visiting St. Louis Blues, in Game 7 of the WCSF. pic.twitter.com/1c3WcWWIhS

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 31, 2020

The moment is iconic in part because the camerawork from ESPN is nothing less than perfect.  A low camera behind the end boards is trained up at Yzerman.  It shows his ease through the neutral zone, then his windup, then the brilliant trajectory of his shot—whizzing past the ankle of defenseman Murray Baron and over the blocker of goaltender Jon Casey, who never had a chance.

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Of course, as Red Wings fans well know, Yzerman's goal—iconic though it was—didn't come in a championship run.  Instead, Detroit fell in six games to the Colorado Avalanche (who went on to win the Stanley Cup), allowing a narrative to persist Yzerman, despite his heroics, wasn't suited to winning hockey.  A narrative Yzerman wouldn't be able to fully put to rest for another year when he would capture the Cup for the first time.

What is your favorite Red Wings goal from the 25-year playoff streak?  Yzerman versus the Blues?  Darren McCarty versus the Flyers?  Darren Helm versus the Blackhawks?  Or something else entirely?  Let us know in the comments.

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The Washington Capitals have recalled goaltender Clay Stevenson from the Hershey Bears, it was announced Thursday. 

Stevenson, a product of Drayton Valley, Alta., has split time this season between the Capitals and the Bears. In his lone NHL appearance, he collected the loss while putting up a 5.00 GAA and a .868 SP. In 33 appearances with Hershey, Stevenson put together a record of 18-8-5 along with a 2.94 GAA and a .888 SP. Stevenson has also seen one game for the Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs, putting up a 4.00 GAA and a .875 SP. 

With this being his third full season of pro hockey, Stevenson has made a name for himself throughout his time in the Capitals organization. Across 72 regular season appearances with Hershey, where he has spent the majority of his time, Stevenson has put up a respectable 2.44 GAA and a .907 SP while going 45-18-7. 

Although this season may not have been his best when it comes to stats, Stevenson got the opportunity to make his NHL debut and provides solid depth for the organization. Signed for two more years, Stevenson should see more NHL games next year and is a candidate to have a solid bounce back season in 2025-26.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov dubiously disappeared following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, having not been assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to play in the Calder Cup playoffs.

But, at long last, we have a Kolosov sighting, and it's a positive one!

As originally noted by Belarus Hockey, Kolosov, 23, has returned home to Belarus for the offseason and was recently spotted training with members of the Dinamo Junivers (Dinamo Juniors) 2015-born group.

Kolosov was joined in the training session by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, a fellow Belarusian and teammate of five years dating back to 2018.

Great emotions. I entered the arena, memories immediately came flooding back. Even the smell in the locker room was the same! And I had a great time with the kids, rode with them, suggested something, amused them," Kolosov was quoted as saying by Belarus Hockey via Dinamo's Telegram channel.

"The guys born in 2015 are great, fast, small. One crashed into me, I didn't even feel it. It was more interesting with the older ones in terms of noticing mistakes and being able to point out something, give advice. I talked to the goalkeeper coach, told him the things I was taught.

"The school is growing every year, both in terms of awards and training, how many specialists have been added, and opportunities, and time on the ice."

Kolosov, of course, was a graduate of Dinamo's youth program alongside Kolyachonok, subsequently becoming the first Belarusian goalie to appear in a game in NHL history after making his NHL debut for the Flyers against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 27.

The Flyers' former third-round pick finished his first season in the NHL with a 5-9-1 record, a 3.59 GAA, and a .867 save percentage in 17 total appearances. 

The 2025 NHL Draft is nearing. There are still a couple more rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs remaining, but draft day will be here before you know it. The Chicago Blackhawks are preparing to make the third overall pick. 

The New York Islanders won the lottery, which allowed them to come up with the first overall pick. The San Jose Sharks fell to second overall with the Blackhawks sticking right behind them. 

The assumption is that Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit and Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters will be the top two picks. The intrigue in the draft truly begins with the Blackhawks at three. 

Unless they trade out of the pick or draft someone completely off the board, they will end up with one of these four players: 

James Hagens - C - Boston College

Coming into the 2024-25 season, James Hagens was the consensus number one overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He didn't have the freshman year at college that people were expecting, like Macklin Celebrini a year prior, but he still had a good campaign. 

With Will Smith leaving Boston College, Hagens slipped right into his spot and didn't miss a beat centering a line with Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers). 

In 37 games played with BC, Hagens had 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points. Being a point-per-game freshman at a top NCAA program is not something to ignore. If he goes back in 2025-26, it may be something to behold. 

Hagens also got some experience playing with Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He elevated his game in that tournament, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in seven matches. Hagens was a big part of their Gold medal-winning run.

Being a smaller forward is the biggest knock against Hagens. With Connor Bedard already in Chicago, they may avoid him for that reason, but there is no denying his ceiling offensively. 

Porter Martone - RW - Brampton Steelheads

Porter Martone had a wonderful year for the Brampton Steelheads. While being a noticeable physical presence, he took his offense to the next level in 2024-25. 

In 57 games played with the Steelheads, Martone scored 37 goals and had 61 assists for 98 points. With the offensive skills that he possesses, combined with his attributes away from the puck, an NHL team might be getting a difference maker in more ways than one if they select him.

Martone's skill set resembles that of a player who would fit in well with Bedard. If he reaches his physical and offensive ceiling once he plays in the NHL, he would create extra space for a star like Bedard to make plays.

Martone is more of a winger than a center, but Chicago could use young depth at all forward positions right now. 

Anton Frondell - C - Djurgardens IF

Anton Frondell has inserted himself into the mix to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Chicago has had plenty of success with players from Sweden, which is one of the many reasons that Frondell is a great candidate for them. 

Frondell is one of those two-way centers who can create offense for himself and others around him. When he comes to the NHL, he could be one of those players who have nearly as many goals as assists. 

In 29 games played during the regular season with Djugardens, he scored 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. Scoring is much harder in Swedish leagues than in North America, but he showed he can do it. When he comes to North America, he projects to be the kind of player who does it all to help a team win.

With Connor Bedard as the top-line center, they could use someone like Frondell down the middle on the second or third line. 

Caleb Desnoyers - C - Moncton Wildcats

Another good center option, if they feel strongly about him through their scouting, is Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats. This is a player who will be drafted in the top six of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

In 56 games played with Moncton, Desnoyers scored 35 goals and 49 assists for 84 points. He has an offensive ceiling worthy of being selected early in the draft.

The skills are there for him to continue developing into a center who can help at even strength and on the power play. 

If the Blackhawks aren't going to select one of these four, they may as well consider moving down and adding other assets in the meantime.

If they go with one of these options, they will be adding another forward to work with their budding young core that projects to be great in the long term. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For the second time since 2010, the London Knights are the winners of back-to-back OHL Championships. The Knights took game five of the OHL Final to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup on home ice. 

This year, the Knights took five games to defeat the Oshawa Generals, whom they swept in last year's finals. 

In an immediate divergence from last year, the Generals took game one on the road and started the series confidently. From there, the Knights dominated the series, winning three games in convincing fashion. 

While the Generals put up a fantastic fight in game five, they ultimately fell short, losing 5-2. 

Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Gibson got the scoring started in game five, firing a puck past Austin Elliott from the point. The big blue-liner was one of Oshawa's best players throughout the series, tallying multiple goals at crucial moments.

London's Kasper Halttunen, who scored a pair of goals in the game, got the Knights on the board in the final minute of the period to take things to the intermission tied at one.

#Handshakes 🤝

The best tradition in hockey! The @LondonKnights and @Oshawa_Generals meet at centre ice after a hard-fought series!🥰#OHLChampionship | @CHLHockeypic.twitter.com/cqyzABpHxw

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 16, 2025

Halttunen was awarded the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award, which is given to the OHL Playoffs MVP. He scored eight goals in the last three games of the series, recording back-to-back hattricks. He is the first European to win the award.

As was the case in games two through four, London dominated the second period, scoring a pair of goals to take a 3-1 lead. Anaheim Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke found a big response at the end of the period to make it 3-2. 

London locked things down in the third period, stifling the talented Oshawa offense, which got 18 shots in the final frame.

Halttunen Hattrick Highlights London's Game Four WinThe London Knights won game four of the OHL Final in dominant fashion, defeating the Oshawa Generals 6-2. A pair of San Jose Sharks prospects factored heavily into the Knights' victory. 

Landon Sim scored a huge goal by following up on Ottawa Senators prospect Blake Montgomery's rush and batting the puck out of the air to make it 4-2. Easton Cowan scored an empty-net goal to make it 5-2. 

The win gave Head Coach Dale Hunter his fifth OHL Championship, tying him for the most in OHL history. 

The last time the Knights won back-to-back championships was during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. It takes a special set of players to win in two consecutive seasons. Notable members of the 2012/13 Knights included Islanders' star Bo Horvat, Leafs' forward Max Domi and Chris Tierney. 

Just like those teams, the 2024/25 Knights were loaded with talent. It feels like it will only be a matter of time before we see these young stars start to step into the NHL.

While the Knights will assuredly take some time to celebrate their victory, they still have unfinished business to attend to. They made it to the Memorial Cup Final last year, where they lost to the Saginaw Spirit. 

Sam Dickinson told The Hockey News earlier in the season that the Memorial Cup was the goal and the standard that this team held itself to. They want to return to that stage, and this time, potentially take home a trophy.

---

The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the off-season knowing they have some money to spend on free agents -- not as much money as some teams, but right now, they have approximately $21.4 million in salary cap space to use.

Some of that cap space will go to RFA defenseman Bowen Byram, but even with a healthy raise for Byram and Buffalo's other free agents, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams can acquire a veteran or two to help his team's playoff chances next season. But the big question is, who do they spend it on?

Now, please don't answer "Mitch Marner" for that question. Even if Marner does leave Toronto -- and we're now of the opinion that he is going to leave the Maple Leafs -- it's highly-unlikely he'll choose the Sabres as his next home. When you don't make the Stanley Cup playoffs for nearly a decade-and-a-half, you fall down the wish list of most high-end free agents.

So, the question then is, "who is a reasonable target for Buffalo this off-season?" And there are many options for the Sabres to try and lure with a lucrative contract offer.

For instance, would Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato be a fit? He's had a terrific season, with 31 goals and 62 points for the Hawks. And he's earned just $2 million this season, so Buffalo would have to pay him considerably more. But what about Ottawa Senators center Claude Giroux make sense? He's a relative greybeard at 37 years old, but for the right amount of money, he might be convinced to leave the Sens for the Sabres.

As well, there's Carolina Hurricanes center Jack Roslovic to consider; he's just 28 years old, but he's had a solid year and would get a significant raise on his current $2.8-million salary. Finally, perhaps native Western New Yorker Patrick Kane could be persuaded to come home for the remainder of his NHL career; he's making $4-million this season with the Detroit Red Wings, so he may be a less-costly alternative.

Sabres Will Be Looking For Hockey Deal In Potential Byram Trade There are no certainties when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres this summer, and the speculation regarding defenseman Bowen Byram may simply result in a short-term bridge deal and the 23-year-old walking to unrestricted free agency in 2027, but if that chatter regarding the Sabres potentially trading him is true, the question before GM Kevyn Adams is what do you get back for him.

We could go up and down the list of UFAs, but check for yourself, and feel free to suggest other free agent targets for Buffalo this summer in the comments section below. Some player or another has to take the Sabres' money, but the challenge for Adams is to sell the organization to NHLers, whether they're up-and-comers, players nearing the end of their playing days, or someone in-between.

In any case, it will be fascinating to see what Buffalo can do with their cap space, because the way they spend it could be the difference between ending or extending their playoff drought.

Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen ByramThe Buffalo Sabres have a number of roster dilemmas to address this summer, and the players whose contracts are up pose the biggest problem for GM Kevyn Adams. Defenseman Bowen Byram, who scored a career-high 38 points playing a good chunk of the season with Rasmus Dahlin, is someone with the talent to be a #1 defenseman, but may see his path to that role blocked by Dahlin and Owen Power. 

Highly touted prospect Alexander Nikishin is set to make his NHL debut tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 against the Washington Capitals.

Defenseman Jalen Chatfield will miss tonight's game due to a lower-body injury.

Nikishin, 23, had long been considered one of the best prospects outside of the NHL, setting records and dominating the KHL.

The defenseman will have the chance to prove himself in a high-pressure situation as the Canes look to close out their second-round series in Washington.

The 2020 third-round pick is a towering figure and has all the tools to be successful.

Being paired alongside Dmitry Orlov should also help given the language barrier.

Let's see what the rookie's got.

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Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!  

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Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

As the postseason moves along, it seems as though the San Jose Sharks are focusing on getting some of their own things done this offseason as they look to improve on what was a rough 2024-25 campaign. In a recent report, it seems as though they will be signing Yegor Afanasyev for the 2025-26 season.

Per Artur Khairullin, Yegor Afanasyev will sign with @SanJoseSharks for the 2025-26 season.
His KHL contract was mutually terminated with CSKA.

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) May 15, 2025

Afanasyev, who is 24 years old, was acquired from the Nashville Predators in June of 2024, but signed in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) after becoming a restricted free agent (RFA). This season with CSKA Moskva, he scored seven goals and added 14 assists for 21 points through 53 games. 

Afanasyev was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators at 45th overall after a strong showing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he had 62 points in 58 games.

For the 2019-20 season, he joined the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he scored 31 goals and added 36 assists for 67 points through 62 games. He made the jump to the professional level in the 2021-22 season.

Through 19 games in the NHL over two seasons, he has one goal. Through 187 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), he scored 52 goals and added 61 assists for 113 points, which comes out to a 0.60 points-per-game average. 

There aren't any details on what a contract looks like for next season, but if the report is accurate, details should come out on his new contract soon.

Sharks Prospect Kasper Halttunen Dominating OHL PlayoffsSan Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen has been on fire during the OHL playoffs with the London Knights. Sharks' Defense Prospect Breaks Another London Knights Record San Jose Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson continues to break records in the OHL. Sharks & Shakir Mukhamadullin Reportedly Close To Contract Extension AgreementWith the 2024-25 season gone and the San Jose Sharks having shifted their focus onto the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and the 2025-26 campaign, it sounds like they are closing in on a new contract with one of their pending free-agent defenders. Sharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeThe 2025 WHL Prospects Draft has now come and gone, and while there weren't many surprises or much news to report from those couple of days, there was one massive trade that caught some attention.

Two years ago, former Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in the second round on their way to their first Stanley Cup championship, but history did not repeat itself in the second-round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Oilers turned the tables on Vegas and eliminated them in five games with a 1-0 overtime victory in Game 5.

Kasperi Kapanen scored at 7:19 of the extra frame to give Edmonton the win and advance them to their second straight Western Conference Final to face the winner of the Winnipeg-Dallas series, in which the Stars lead 3-1.  Eichel led the Golden Knights in scoring with 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in 11 games, while ex-Sabre Victor Olofsson finished his first post-season appearance with four points (2 goals, 2 assists), and Brayden McNabb had four assists in 11 games. 

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How other Sabres did in the playoffs on Wednesday:

Evander Kane (EDM) 17:22 TOI, 3 SOG, 7 Hits

Jeff Skinner(EDM) Did Not Play

Florida - 6, Buffalo - 1, Panthers lead 3-2

Sam Reinhart(FLA) 2A,+2, 17:27 TOI, 6 SOG

Evan Rodrigues(FLA) Did Not Play

Dmitri Kulikov(FLA) 1G, +2, 17:57 TOI, 2 SOG, 2 Hits

Jake McCabe(TOR) -1, 19:00 TOI, 1 SOG, 1 Hits

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

What we know about the NHL conference finals so far originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Two teams are on the doorstep of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

The Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes have advanced to the conference final round of the NHL playoffs.

The Oilers, last year’s Stanley Cup runners-up, are back in the Western Conference Final as they eye the franchise’s first championship since 1990. Connor McDavid and Co. dropped their first two games of this postseason, but have only suffered one loss since.

Edmonton, the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed, overcame a 2-0 first-round series deficit against the No. 2 Los Angeles Kings with four straight comeback wins before taking down the No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights in five games. McDavid and co-star Leon Draisaitl have combined for eight goals and 25 assists across 11 playoff contests.

The West final could be a rematch from last year, when the Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars in six games. Dallas currently holds a 3-1 second-round series lead over the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are making their second Eastern Conference Final appearance in three years. Carolina, the Metro Division’s No. 2 seed, needed just five games to bounce both the No. 3 New Jersey Devils and the East-leading Washington Capitals. Frederik Andersen has been stellar between the pipes for Carolina, boasting a 1.36 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage in nine playoff starts.

Now, the Hurricanes need to get past either the defending champion Florida Panthers or the Toronto Maple Leafs in order to reach their first Cup Final since the franchise’s lone championship triumph in 2006. Florida has a 3-2 series edge over Toronto after losing the first two games.

So, when will the conference finals start and who has home-ice advantage? Here’s what to know:

When do the NHL Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The NHL hasn’t yet announced when the conference finals will get underway. This story will be updated as schedule details emerge.

For what it’s worth, the final second-round game that’s currently scheduled is a possible Game 7 between the Jets and Stars on Monday, May 19.

What are the NHL Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

• Eastern Conference Final: Carolina Hurricanes vs. winner of Florida Panthers-Toronto Maple Leafs
• Western Conference Final: Edmonton Oilers vs. winner of Dallas Stars-Winnipeg Jets

Who has home-ice advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

The team with the superior regular-season record gets home-ice advantage in the conference final round.

The Oilers won’t have home-ice regardless of opponent, as both the Jets and Stars finished ahead of them in the standings. The Hurricanes will have home-ice advantage if they face the Panthers, but will start the conference final on the road should they see the Leafs.

What to know for the NHL conference finals: Matchups, schedule, where to watch originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Four teams are on the doorstep of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will square off in a Western Conference Final rematch in the 2025 NHL playoffs, while the defending champion Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes meet in the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three years.

The Panthers, the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, have reached the conference final for the third straight year, with a chance to make a third straight Cup Final. Florida has kept its repeat bid alive by beating the No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and the No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. The Panthers, who can join an exclusive group of back-to-back Cup winners, overcame a 2-0 series deficit against the Leafs and won Game 7 on the road in emphatic fashion.

The Hurricanes are looking to avoid a repeat of the 2023 conference final, when they were swept by Florida. Carolina, the Metro Division’s No. 2 seed, needed just five games to bounce both the No. 3 New Jersey Devils and the East-leading Washington Capitals. Frederik Andersen has been stellar between the pipes for Carolina, boasting a 1.36 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage in nine playoff starts.

Now, the Hurricanes need to get past the defending champs in order to reach their first Cup Final since the franchise’s lone championship triumph in 2006.

The Oilers, last year’s Stanley Cup runners-up, are also eyeing a return trip to the Cup Final in search of the franchise’s first championship since 1990. Connor McDavid and Co. dropped their first two games of this postseason, but have only suffered one loss since.

Edmonton, the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed, overcame a 2-0 first-round series deficit against the No. 2 Los Angeles Kings with four straight comeback wins before taking down the No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights in five games. McDavid and co-star Leon Draisaitl have combined for eight goals and 25 assists across 11 playoff contests.

The Stars are playing in their third straight conference final and fourth since 2020. But Dallas has been eliminated from this round the last two postseasons, most recently falling to Edmonton in six games in 2024.

Dallas, the Central Division’s No. 2 seed, first outlasted the No. 3 Colorado Avalanche in a seven-game thriller and then bounced the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets in six games. Trade deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen has racked up a playoff-high 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) as he attempts to help deliver the Stars their first title since 1999 and second overall.

So, when will the conference finals start and who has home-ice advantage? Here’s what to know:

What are the NHL Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

• Eastern Conference Final: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
• Western Conference Final: Edmonton Oilers vs.Dallas Stars

When do the NHL Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The conference final round begins with Panthers-Hurricanes on Tuesday, May 20, followed by Game 1 of Oilers-Stars on Wednesday, May 21.

Who has home-ice advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

Dallas and Carolina have home-ice advantage due to their superior regular-season records.

What is the Oilers vs. Stars Western Conference Final schedule?

• Game 1: Oilers at Stars — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Oilers at Stars — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 3: Stars at Oilers — Sunday, May 25, 3 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 4: Stars at Oilers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 5 (if necessary): Oilers at Stars — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 6 (if necessary): Stars at Oilers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 7 (if necessary): Oilers at Stars — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Where to watch, stream the Oilers vs. Stars Western Conference Final

The West Final will air across ESPN and ABC, and can be streamed live on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

What is the Panthers vs. Hurricanes Eastern Conference Final schedule?

• Game 1: Panthers at Hurricanes — Tuesday, May 20, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV
• Game 2: Panthers at Hurricanes — Thursday, May 22, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV
• Game 3: Hurricanes at Panthers — Saturday, May 24, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV
• Game 4: Hurricanes at Panthers — Monday, May 26, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV
• Game 5 (if necessary): Panthers at Hurricanes — Wednesday, May 28, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV
• Game 6 (if necessary): Hurricanes at Panthers — Friday, May 30, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV
• Game 7 (if necessary): Panthers at Hurricanes — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV

Where to watch, stream the Panthers vs. Hurricanes Eastern Conference Final

Panthers-Hurricanes games will be shown on both TNT and truTV. They can also be streamed live on TNTDrama.com, the TNT app and Max.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 15.

The Ottawa Senators brought on veteran NHL center Sam Gagner for the next phase of his hockey career.

Gagner is now the director of player development for the Senators after a 1,043-game NHL career.

“Sam had an incredible career as a player, and we look forward to launching his next chapter,” Senators GM Steve Staios said in a news release. “A true character individual, Sam has contributed to the success of his organizations, both on and off the ice.”

Gagner recently played for the AHL’s Belleville Senators in the 2024-25 season after signing a professional tryout with the team. He made 19 appearances and recorded 10 assists for Belleville up until the NHL trade deadline.

The 35-year-old has played 1,043 games in the NHL across 17 years. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets.

He spent most of his career with the Oilers, which selected him sixth overall in the 2007 NHL draft. He played 10 seasons with Edmonton in three different stints. Gagner’s first seven years in the NHL were with Edmonton, followed by another two seasons from 2018 to 2020. 

He also played his last NHL season with his draft team in 2023-24, featuring in 28 games, scoring five goals and 10 points.

Gagner’s career high in points came in the 2016-17 season with the Blue Jackets, when he had 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points in 81 games. He also has seven 40-point campaigns in his career.

While Gagner only appeared in 11 NHL playoff games in his career – six games with Philadelphia in 2015-16 and five with Columbus the following year – he does have some championship hardware. 

In 2012, Gagner won the Spengler Cup with Team Canada, recording three assists in four games. He was part of a star-studded Canadian squad that year during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, playing with Matt Duchene, Patrice Bergeron, John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin and more.

Gagner also won gold with Canada at the 2006-07 world juniors, the same season he made the CHL’s all-rookie team with 118 points in 53 games on the OHL’s London Knights.

The Senators also hired Matt Turek as the new GM for Belleville. He’s been a GM and scout in the OHL for the last decade, and he was an amateur scout for the Montreal Canadiens from 2017 to 2022.

Turek played a key role in the former Hamilton Bulldogs’ OHL championship wins in 2018 and 2022 as the director of player personnel before becoming their GM from 2022 to 2025, including during the squad’s move to Brantford.

Senators owner Michael Andlauer owned the Bulldogs up until midway through this season, when he sold the team to the family of Edmonton Oilers left winger Zach Hyman. The Bulldogs announced Thursday that Spencer Hyman will take over as GM.

“Matt has managed a successful Ontario Hockey League team, and he has gained a critical management skills and experience at that level,” Staios said. “In addition to his experience, Matt will bring passion and leadership to our organization.”

These additions come after the Senators parted ways with associate GM Ryan Bowness earlier in May.

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