2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3 series picks
The Conference Final matchups are here. Beginning Tuesday in the East, the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers face off, with Carolina hoping for a stronger showing than its sweep defeat to Florida two years ago in the third round. Beginning Wednesday, the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers square off in what will be a high-octane rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final.
Which two teams will advance to the Stanley Cup Final? The Daily Faceoff predictions panel takes a crack at Round 3. The standings after two rounds:
Brock Seguin, 10-2
Jason Gregor, 9-3
Frank Seravalli, 9-3
Jonny Lazarus, 8-4
Paul Pidutti, 8-4
Anthony Di Marco, 7-5
Matt Larkin, 7-5
Scott Maxwell, 7-5
Tyler Yaremchuk, 7-5
Steven Ellis, 6-6
Now, the Round 3 picks from the panel:
The Hurricanes have only lost twice all postseason, but the Panthers arguably had the more difficult pair of opponents across the first two rounds in the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs and get the benefit of the doubt as the defending Stanley Cup champions from seven of the 10 voters. The Panthers are pretty much the same play-driving machine as the Hurricanes, except the Panthers have the finishing ability and championship experience to boot.
The Oilers looked genuinely impressive tossing aside the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. But the Stars are arguably the deepest team in the NHL, they have Mikko Rantanen playing perhaps the best hockey of his life, and Jake Oettinger in theory gives them a nice edge in net over Stuart Skinner. Still, it’s a bit surprising that six of 10 voters chose the Stars when the Oilers eliminated them a year ago. The Rantanen factor is the difference this time, evidently.
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