A peek inside the numbers explains why. From 2021 to '24, the Hurricanes averaged 3.39 goals per 60 minutes (all strengths) in the playoff rounds they've won. In the playoff rounds in which they've been eliminated, that scoring average drops to 1.91 goals per game.

The Stars lost in the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and in the conference final each of the past two years. Coach Pete DeBoer and forwards Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene have never won the Cup in their long NHL careers. Forward Tyler Seguin hasn't won it since he was a 19-year-old rookie with the Boston Bruins in 2011.

NHL referee Chris Rooney hopes to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after suffering a black eye in a high stick accident during Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida

For the second straight round, Rantanen leads the Conn Smythe Watch as he helped lead the Dallas Stars to their third straight conference finals. Through 13 postseason games, he leads all playoff scorers with 19 points, including a playoff-best nine goals.

Leon Draisaitl is the betting favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP going into the conference finals round of the NHL playoffs, with the Edmonton Oilers eight wins away from the Stanley Cup that has eluded him and Connor McDavid.

Tonight’s NHL playoff action has the Dallas Stars hosting the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the West Finals, with the winner of this series heading to the Stanley Cup Finals. Face off is on Wednesday,