The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers face off in a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, while the Western Conference finals are a return bout from 2024 between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers. A third straight conference finals appearance reaffirms that the Stars are in a championship window. The Oilers earned a return to the conference finals by tapping into every part of their roster. The Hurricanes and Panthers are essentially 1-2 in every defensive category this postseason, and their special teams are on par. Florida pounded Carolina in a four-game sweep during the teams' meeting in the conference finals two years ago.