Four Teams Left Standing: Here's Who Makes the Conference Finals and Why the Hurricanes-Flyers Matchup Is a Total Slugfest

Eight teams are down. Eight remain. The Stanley Cup Playoffs second round is here, and the field just got a whole lot meaner. With spots in the conference finals on the line, these matchups are about to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

The Heavyweights Are Colliding

The marquee showdown has to be Colorado versus Minnesota. Two legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Quinn Hughes on one bench, Cale Makar on the other. That alone should have you glued to your screen. This series could go seven games of world-class hockey, and honestly, it's the kind of matchup that reminds you why you love the playoffs.

Buffalo is trying to cap off an incredible story. They snapped a 14-season playoff drought and now they're one series away from the conference finals for the first time since 2007. Standing in their way is Montreal, fresh off taking down Tampa Bay. Two of the most electric buildings in the NHL will be rocking.

Vegas and Anaheim represent a clash of styles: elite defense meets high-powered offense. And then there's Carolina versus Philadelphia, where you should expect a defensive grind with not much room to breathe on the ice.

The Flyers Keep the Magic Alive Over the Hurricanes

Here's the pick that matters in the East: Philadelphia advances 4-3 over Carolina. Yes, the Hurricanes swept the Senators and Frederik Andersen was lights out with 5.22 goals saved above average, leading all playoff goalies. But Carolina's got a real problem on offense. Their top line of Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov got outscored 1-0 at five-on-five against the Senators. They didn't even control 33% of the expected goals share.

The Flyers, though? They're the ones with momentum. Rookie Porter Martone scored twice in the first round and continues to inject offensive life into Philadelphia. Dan Vladar was every bit as good as Andersen in goal, posting a 1.61 goals-against-average and a 42-save shutout in their series clincher. Fourteen different Flyers scored at least one goal in round one. That's depth. That's balance. That's a team that just pulled off an upset over the Penguins and isn't done yet.

Next Up: Conference Finals Are Calling

Four teams will be left standing after the second round closes. The Eastern Conference Final is about to get wild, and if the Flyers keep this going, Philadelphia might just be the story nobody saw coming.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.