We’re two games into the Stanley Cup Final. Which is to say, maybe halfway through.
That’s the pessimist’s version, assuming you’re not a Panthers fan. If you’re neutral, or close enough, your main hope at this time of year is for a classic final, the kind of seven-game masterpiece you’ll remember fondly years or even decades down the road. We may still get that, although with the Oilers down 2-0 and struggling to find offense, our hopes are dwindling.
We’ll get a better sense of how this series will shape up tomorrow night. But as we wait, let’s take a look back at the earlier series that got us here. It’s time to rank the path to the 2024 final, as we count down the 14 series that led us to this matchup, from worst to best.
14. Rangers over Capitals in 4 (Round 1)
Expectations: The Capitals were the postseason’s plucky underdogs, a longshot to even put up much of a fight against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers. Just about everyone expected an easy New York win.
What we got: A series that somehow took those low expectations and still underwhelmed. Honestly, does anyone remember anything that happened in this series?
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Overtimes: None.
Mandatory controversy: Matt Rempe exists. That was about it.
Defining moment: It was less about what happened and more about what didn’t, with Alex Ovechkin’s no-show of a series turning into the biggest story.
Bottom line: Let’s never speak of this again.
13. Oilers over Kings in 5 (Round 1)
Expectations: After losing to the Oilers in the first round two years in a row, the Kings got another chance to show they could hang with Connor McDavid and friends.
What we got: They could not, in fact, hang with Connor McDavid and friends.
Overtimes: One, the Kings’ only win, on Anze Kopitar’s Game 2 goal.
Mandatory controversy: Nothing as bad as last year, thankfully, but this series seemed to feature even more complaining about the officiating than usual.
Defining moment: The Oilers’ 1-0 road win in Game 4, which came on the heels of a 6-1 win in Game 3, gave off real “we can do this any way you want to” energy.
Bottom line: Take heart, Kings fans, you’ll always have that one PL Dubois point.
12. Hurricanes over Islanders in 5 (Round 1)
Expectations: The Hurricanes were heavy favorites, although there was at least a chance the Islanders’ goaltending edge could keep it close.
What we got: The Islanders gave all the starts to Semyon Varlamov over Ilya Sorokin and he wasn’t better than Freddie Andersen, leading to a relatively quick Hurricanes win.
Overtimes: Just one, with the Islanders avoiding the sweep in Game 4 on Mathew Barzal’s double-OT winner.
Mandatory controversy: Not much on the ice, although the Hurricanes’ social media got weird for a bit and Islanders fans didn’t appreciate it.
Defining moment: The Islanders held a 3-0 lead in Game 2, only to watch the Hurricanes storm back with a dominant performance that included two goals in nine seconds to take the lead late in the third and all but end the series.
Bottom line: With just three wins in three series dating back to 2019, the Islanders might want to figure out a way to stop playing the Hurricanes.
11. Avalanche over Jets in 5 (Round 1)
Expectations: Two very good teams crossed paths in what shaped up as a classic, with Connor Hellebuyck in a starring role as the key to the series.
What we got: We didn’t get the classic, although Hellebuyck did end up being the key. It just wasn’t the way we thought, as he got shelled all series long.
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Overtimes: None. And only Game 1 was even a one-goal game.
Mandatory controversy: A spirited line brawl at the end of Game 3 left Brenden Dillon with a bloody hand, and the rest of us with questions over what it was all for.
Defining moment: While it didn’t define the series, and in fact probably misled us more than any playoff game this year, the most memorable game will be the wild Game 1 that ended in a 7-6 final.
Bottom line: Of all the first round’s short series, this was the one that felt like it should have been so much more.
10. Rangers over Hurricanes in 6 (Round 2)
Expectations: The battle for Metro supremacy that had seemed inevitable since late November.
What we got: A surprisingly anticlimactic 3-0 series lead for New York, followed by just enough of a Carolina comeback to rope us back in.
Overtimes: Two, back-to-back Rangers wins in Games 2 and 3.
Mandatory controversy: In addition to the usual accusations of dirty hits and missed penalties, we also had a throwback to past generations with a rare broken stick controversy.
Defining moment: While you could go with either OT goal, I think the pick here has to be Chris Kreider’s Game 6 hat trick, saving the Rangers from having to play what would have been a gut-wrenching Game 7.
Bottom line: That Game 7 would have been fantastic entertainment for the rest of us, by the way. Thanks for ruining it, Chris.
9. Panthers over Lightning in 5 (Round 1)
Expectations: The Panthers were the favorites on paper, but had never beaten their state rivals in a playoff series. Would the old guard hold firm, or would we see a passing of the torch?
What we got: Yeah, it turns out they were the favorites for a reason.
Overtimes: One, a Panthers win in Game 2 that extended the franchise’s OT winning streak to 11 games.
Mandatory controversy: The Lightning had two goals wiped out by goalie interference in Game 5. Jon Cooper wasn’t happy about it, because he apparently didn’t read my explainer.
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Defining moment: The four Panthers goals in eight minutes that turned Game 5 from a close one into a laugher, and emphatically ended any thoughts about a Lightning comeback.
Bottom line: This ended up feeling like less of a passing of the torch and more of a case of one team yanking it out of the other’s hand. Which can be cool in its own way.
8. Canucks over Predators in 6 (Round 1)
Expectations: Despite the Canucks being the Pacific’s top seed, more than a few fans and media were making this series their trendy upset pick. The story would likely be goaltending, with Juuse Saros looking to outduel Vezina finalist Thatcher Demko.
What we got: The story was goaltending, all right, but it wasn’t Demko carrying the load for Vancouver after an early injury. It wasn’t Casey DeSmith either, as he got hurt too. Instead, we were all introduced to Arturs Silovs, a third-stringer who’d only appeared in four NHL games during the season. While that felt like a disaster, Silovs was just fine, helping the Canucks win the series in six.
Overtimes: Just one, a 4-3 Canucks win in Game 4.
Mandatory controversy: We had a distinct kicking motion controversy in that same Game 4, although Vancouver winning meant it was quickly forgotten.
Defining moment: We may as well stay in Game 4, as a late 3-1 lead for the Predators evaporated on two goals in the final minutes from Brock Boeser before Elias Lindholm got the OT winner just a minute into sudden death.
Bottom line: Playoff goaltending is weird.
7. Oilers over Stars in 6 (Round 3)
Expectations: A battle featuring the best in the West, pitting the Stars’ superior depth and goaltending against the Oilers’ firepower.
What we got: More or less that, although Stuart Skinner outplaying Jake Oettinger was a stunner that probably tipped the series.
Overtimes: Just one, in the opener, featuring McDavid’s double-OT winner.
Mandatory controversy: The usual interminable grumbling about the officiating, although this one featured a bonus controversy that was actually kind of nice. After a Game 2 win, the Dallas arena DJ played “La Bamba,” the Oilers’ anthem that serves as a tribute to the legendary Joey Moss and superfan Ben Stelter. Oiler fans were, understandably, not happy about what they saw as an intentional dig at two beloved figures. But it turns out the Dallas DJ simply didn’t know about the song’s meaning and quickly apologized, and the two fan bases turned the conflict into an impromptu fundraiser for the Ben Stelter Foundation.
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Postscript: Both fan bases have been warned that acting like human beings during the playoffs is unacceptable, and have promised to never do it again.
Defining moment: Leading the series 3-1, the Stars took an early 2-0 lead in Game 4 in Edmonton, and seemed to be on their way to a decisive win. Instead, Ryan McLeod got the Oilers back into it with a goal, Evan Bouchard tied it moments later, and Dallas was outscored 8-2 the rest of the way.
Bottom line: It needed a bit more overtime and a Game 7 to reach classic status, but this one mostly delivered.
6. Panthers over Bruins in 6 (Round 2)
Expectations: One year after the Panthers pulled off a massive upset to derail the Bruins’ record-breaking season, it was Boston that had a chance to play the underdog in the rematch.
What we got: A slow build that started with three blowouts before settling into some must-watch hockey.
Overtimes: None.
Mandatory controversy: All sorts, including multiple goalie interference debates. But the big one here was Sam Bennett’s “accidental” haymaker that knocked Brad Marchand out of the series for a few games. To make matters worse, we didn’t get the definitive angle on the play until the next day.
Defining moment: I have to go with David Pastrnak fighting Matthew Tkachuk, a moment was that both stupid and kind of awesome.
Bottom line: It wasn’t the best series of the playoffs, but it might have been the most fun to watch.
5. Stars over Avalanche in 6 (Round 2)
Expectations: With apologies to the Jets, this was the heavyweight showdown between the two Central contenders.
What we got: While it didn’t quite live up to the hopes of an all-time classic, this one delivered a very good series, one where five of the six games came down to the final minutes.
Overtimes: Two, including an Avs win in the opener and Matt duch*ene ending the series.
Bonus points for that also being the longest overtime game of the postseason so far.
Mandatory controversy: We very nearly got the nightmare scenario of a legitimate series-winner being waved off on shaky grounds, as Mason Marchment’s apparent OT goal was called back due to interference. The Stars ended up winning that game, so the bullet was dodged, but it was a clear sign from the hockey gods to get rid of replay review.
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Defining moment: It’s probably duch*ene’s winner, although we also have to mention the Valeri Nichushkin story breaking hours before Game 4.
Bottom line: Short of a Game 7 and maybe a bit more overtime, these two teams delivered everything we could have hoped for in a second-round series.
4. Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7 (Round 1)
Expectations: It’s the playoffs, so the Leafs would lose the goaltending battle, their stars would underperform, there’d be a few defensive meltdowns, the coach would have no answers, and they’d lose in seven.
What we got: We were totally wrong; the goaltending was fine for the two games Joseph Woll started.
Overtimes: Two, including Pastrnak’s winner in what’s so far the postseason’s only Game 7 OT.
Mandatory controversy: Surprisingly little, although we did get some passive-aggressive sniping about Marchand drawing penalties.
Defining moment: While Boston fans will remember this series for Pastrnak’s set-play winner, the defining image for Leaf fans will be their star core sniping at each other on the bench during a lackluster Game 4 loss.
Bottom line: Was it predictable? Sure. But not every blockbuster needs a twist ending, and sometimes you just want to see your favorite band play the hits.
3. Panthers over Rangers in 6 (Round 3)
Expectations: The top seeds in the Atlantic and Metro clash in a series that figured to be driven by the big stars.
What we got: A series that was close and very good, but one in which one team’s best players faded as the games went on.
Overtimes: A postseason-leading three, including Rangers wins in Games 2 and 3 and a Panthers win in Game 4.
Mandatory controversy: Plenty, with Rangers fans complaining to this day that the Panthers were allowed to get away with headhunting. Meanwhile, Panthers fans would point at Jacob Trouba’s flying elbow as evidence that New York wasn’t exactly on its best behavior.
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Defining moment: Blake Wheeler’s hook on Aleksander Barkov early in that Game 4 overtime probably should have been a penalty shot, but the Panthers capitalized on the power play to even the series and never looked back.
Bottom line: A great series, and one that gets bonus points for seeming to have plunged the Rangers into a mini-existential crisis as they try to figure out their next steps.
2. Stars over Golden Knights in 7 (Round 1)
Expectations: Maybe the best matchup of the first round, as the defending champs faced off with the conference’s top seed.
What we got: One of those rare series that not only lives up to the hype, but maybe even surpasses it.
Overtimes: One, a 3-2 Stars win in Game 3 courtesy of Wyatt Johnston.
Mandatory controversy: You’re not going to believe this, but remember that Golden Knights star who missed the last few months with a long-term injury? He got healthy just in time to start the playoffs, and even scored their first goal. People were super chill about it.
Defining moment: I think we have to go with Johnston’s OT winner, which kept the Knights from going up 3-0 in the series.
Bottom line: Ideally you would have liked to have seen more overtime and a few more goals in the series-ending games. Still, this was a legitimate heavyweight matchup that delivered all sorts of twists and turns.
1. Oilers over Canucks in 7 (Round 2)
Expectations: The season’s only all-Canadian matchup would unite the country in peace and understanding, according to that one pizza chain.
What we got: Seven games of twists and turns, six of which were one-goal games.
Overtimes: Only one, Bouchard’s Game 2 winner that evened the series.
Mandatory controversy: Plenty, highlighted by McDavid getting double-cross-checked at the end of Game 3, leading to Carson Soucy taking the postseason’s only suspension. As an added bonus, we all learned it was possible to take a charging penalty without moving.
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Defining moment: Kris Knoblauch’s decision to bench Skinner after Game 3, and to then reinstate him after Game 5, ended up being two perfectly timed boosts that got the Oilers back into the series.
Bottom line: In a postseason woefully short on Game 7 showdowns, this one went the distance while providing plenty of storylines and even (gasp) some offense. In a weak field, I don’t think it’s all that tough a call for the top spot.
(Photo of Zach Hyman celebrating after a goal against the Dallas Stars in Round 3: Leila Devlin / Getty Images)
