The Stanley Cup Playoffs field is down to four teams. On Monday, Alex Newhook scored the Game 7 overtime winner to push the Montreal Canadiens past the Buffalo Sabres for a spot in the Eastern Conference Final.
After beating the Sabres in dramatic fashion, the Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final. To reach the Stanley Cup Final, Montreal will have to do something no other team has done to this point — beat the Hurricanes.
Carolina is 8-0 in this postseason and eyeing history. Under the current format that began in 1975, no team has ever gone a perfect 16-0 through to winning the Cup. The closest team to doing so was the 1987-88 Edmonton Oilers, who went 16-2. The young Habs will provide a new and unique challenge for a Canes defense that has been dominant this spring.
Western Conference Final Set
Out West, the Colorado Avalanche have been arguably the best team in the league all season, and that has carried over to the playoffs. They swept the Kings out of the first round before knocking out the Wild in the second round. Colorado closed out the Minnesota series with an astonishing three-goal comeback in Game 5.
The level of difficulty will ramp up for the Avs in the Western Conference Final, however, as they face the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas has closed out each of its first two opponents — the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks — in six games. To beat the Avalanche, the Golden Knights will have to counter their depth as 17 different Colorado players have scored through just nine games.
Conference Final Schedule
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens (East)
- Game 1: Thursday, May 21 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | TNT
- Game 2: Saturday, May 23 | at CAR | 7 p.m. | TNT
- Game 3: Monday, May 25 | at MTL | 8 p.m. | TNT
- Game 4: Wednesday, May 27 | at MTL | 8 p.m. | TNT
- Game 5: Friday, May 29 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | TNT*
- Game 6: Sunday, May 31 | at MTL | TBD | TNT*
- Game 7: Tuesday, June 2 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | TNT
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights (West)
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 20 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 2: Friday, May 22 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 3: Sunday, May 24 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 26 | at VGK | 9 p.m. | ESPN*
- Game 5: Thursday, May 28 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN*
- Game 6: Saturday, May 30 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC*
- Game 7: Monday, June 1 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN
*If necessary