Hockey

A quick look at the NHL's Western Conference best-of-seven final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars starting Wednesday: RECENT HISTORY: The Oilers ousted the Stars in six games in last year's conference final.

EDMONTON — It is a well-rested, eager group of Edmonton Oilers who head into the NHL Western Conference final confident they will repeat their 2024 series victory over the Dallas Stars.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars began these NHL playoffs without standout defenseman Miro Heiskanen and top goal scorer Jason Robertson , and still made it to their third consecutive Western Conference final.

After one day without playoff hockey, the chase for the Stanley Cup resumes Tuesday night with the start of the conference finals — and the star power still in contention is off the charts.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Florida Panthers were on their way to becoming the NHL's standard, headed to the Stanley Cup Final two years ago before returning to win the Cup last year.

TORONTO — Auston Matthews saw too many passengers. Mitch Marner took his helmet off and screamed at his teammates to wake up.

Florida Panthers (47-31-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5, in the Metropolitan Division) Raleigh, North Carolina; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hurricanes -123, Panthers +103; over/under is 5.

TORONTO (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves, Florida scored three times in a 6:24 span in the second period and the Panthers routed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 on Sunday night to advance to the Eastern Conference final.

TORONTO — Brad Marchand was with a new team, but felt very much at home beating up an old foe in the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

The NHL playoff field included some unexpected entrants, and the first two rounds featured some surprises and a handful of upsets.