And then there were four. 

After the Montreal Canadiens survived to eliminate the Buffalo Sabres in overtime, in a road Game Seven, via Alex Newhook’s second series-clinching goal of the playoffs, the field of Stanley Cup Playoff participants is down to the Final Four. 

The Eastern Conference Final will feature the Canadiens, as underdogs, going up against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have yet to lose a single game through the first two rounds of this year’s postseason. 

The Western Conference Final will feature the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche. 

Both series will have plenty of intrigue. 

In the East, Carolina hasn’t played a game since finishing off its sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, May 9, 2026. By the time the Eastern Final begins on Thursday, May 21, 2026, the ‘Canes will have gone 11 days between playing games. Sure, teams want some rest to help recover from injuries, but this just seems like too much.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens will have just two days between games and are riding high off their second straight Game Seven victory of the playoffs. And, if you think about it, Montreal hasn’t even been playing to the best of its abilities. 

Cole Caufield only has four goals in 14 games. Same for Juraj Slafkovsky. And the same for Nick Suzuki. Calder Trophy finalist Ivan Demidov only has two goals in 14 games. Suzuki and Lane Hutson are the only Canadiens players with double-digit points through the first two rounds of the playoffs. 

By the way, they have a rookie in goal by the name of Jakub Dobes, who has been inconsistent, but has gotten the job done when it matters most. 

So, Montreal is in the Eastern Conference Final but not playing up to its A-game. 

Carolina has had similar top-line issues and the amount of rust they’ve accumulated surely must have worn away some of the ‘Canes’ magic. 

There’s a fine line between rest and too much rest and Carolina is staring at that line through the rearview mirror. Plus, the Hurricanes have not faced any adversity in these playoffs, so how will they respond when it inevitably comes? 

There’s no question Carolina has more talent than Montreal, but if I were a betting man, I’d take Montreal in six games. 

Over in the west, you have the speed and overwhelming skill of the Avalanche going up against the grinding Golden Knights. Sure, Vegas has some pretty good skill players like Mitch Marner (guess what, Toronto, it turns out he wasn’t the problem after all), William Karlsson and Jack Eichel. And yes, Colorado can grind out offense when need be, but the Avs’ problems in goal are tough to ignore.

Carter Hart is clearly superior to Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood. 

Should we even mention the “Curse of the Presidents’ Trophy?” Yes, Colorado has been the best team in The League all season and, at times, has looked unbeatable, but it becomes awfully difficult to win when you have to do so in spite of your goaltenders. True, they did it in 2022, but just because something happens once doesn’t mean it will happen again. 

While I acknowledge that Colorado is more skilled and faster than Vegas, this is the playoffs, not the regular season. Teams need to play heavy, grinding games, mixed with speed and skill at this time of year. I’m going with Vegas in seven games. 

Oh, speaking of Vegas, they’ve turned into quite the circus of late. 

First, they withheld permission for Bruce Cassidy, whom they fired with just a handful of games left in the regular season, to interview with the Edmonton Oilers for their Head Coaching job. (Supposedly, they did the same thing when the Los Angeles Kings came calling). 

Not only is this petty and in poor taste, but it also goes completely against the established customs of The League. 

If that weren’t enough, after ousting the Anaheim Ducks in Game Six of their second-round matchup, Head Coach John Tortorella and his players refused to meet with the media after their clinching victory, thus going against The NHL’s CBA. For that and for several similar infractions that they were previously warned about, The League fined Tortorella $100,000 and docked the Golden Knights their second-round draft pick in this year’s Entry Draft. 

It’s one thing to want to be unique or to not follow the status quo, but this is just ridiculous. If they want to be The league’s “Bad Boys,” do so the way the Flyers and Bruins have throughout history, on the ice! 

These off-ice shenanigans don’t do anybody any good and they take attention away from what is most important this time of year…THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!