There's nothing worse than being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Every person in Toronto went through a rollercoaster of emotions to end up disappointed, a feeling they know all too well. The series turning point was the Game 3 overtime loss. The Maple Leafs almost certainly would have won the series if they had won. Although it is possible they could have blown that too. They are now a despicable 0-7 in their last seven Game 7s. What would happen if Peter DeBoer and his 9-0 Game 7 record were to coach them? Maybe the world would implode.
I don't know where this team goes from here. The team has talent, but doesn't show up when it matters most. Auston Matthews did in Game 6 but not in Game 7. Breaking up the team won't make it better. They've added players and changed coaches enough times, which doesn't help either. Unless they can get DeBoer, which is doubtful. Justin Williams would help, but he's retired. The only thing I can think of is acquiring Sidney Crosby. I would do whatever it takes to make that happen.
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. A3 Florida Panthers
Season Series: 2-1 Panthers
Playoff Series History: 1-0 Panthers
What We Learned: The Hurricanes plowed through an overrated Capitals team. The Panthers found a way to comeback and win as usual.
Stars to Watch: The Hurricanes are very balanced. Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov lead the Hurricanes. Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven have provided timely points. The only team more balanced than the Hurricanes is the Panthers.
Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen lead the Panthers in scoring, which is wild. Anton Lundell, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett round out their top scorers. Matthew Tkachuk is seventh in playoff scoring, which is even wilder.
Goalie Problem: Frederik Andersen continues to prove he's an underrated goalie. The Maple Leafs shouldn't have let him go. Sergei Bobrovsky didn't win me over in the Maple Leafs series. His performance was good enough, but he'll need to be better in this series.
X-Factor: The mental aspect will be huge. The Panthers have made it to the Stanley Cup finals twice, swept the Hurricanes two seasons ago in the conference finals, and always come back from series deficits. The Hurricanes haven't been to the Stanley Cup Finals in 20 years and don't tend to make comebacks in games or series.
Fun Fact: These teams have the highest shot differentials in the playoffs. They also block the fewest. It's not going to be fun being a goalie.
Prediction: They're better than the Panthers, too, but the Panthers always find ways to win even when they shouldn't. The Panthers were so lucky last time they faced the Hurricanes. The stick caught in the skate, and many other bizarre things went their way. The sweep was not a blowout. I'm glad the Hurricanes beat the Capitals because they were the better team. Every time I pick the Panthers to lose, they win. The one time I picked them to win, against the Vegas Golden Knights, they lost. Okay, I picked them to beat the Oilers and they did. So I'm picking them to win because I want them to lose. Panthers in six.
C2 Dallas Stars vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Season Series: 2-1 Stars
Playoff Series History: 6-3 Stars
What We Learned: The Stars rolled over the Jets, and the Oilers continued their hot streak of crushing opponents.
Stars to Watch: Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and Mikael Granlund lead the Dallas Stars. Several players had hat tricks, and their leading regular-season scorer, Jason Robertson, was demoted to the third line. Thomas Harley really stepped up when Miro Heiskanen was injured. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard led the Oilers. But Evander Kane emerged against the Vegas Golden Knights, and Corey Perry is always a pest near the crease and is still finding ways to score goals.
Goalie Problem: Jake Oettinger is inching toward peak form. The Oilers continue their bizarre goaltending issues. Calvin Pickard assumed the number one goalie spot from Stuart Skinner, who reclaimed it when Pickard became injured. Pickard was the backup goalie in the last game, but I don't think he's healthy yet. I guess Skinner will start. I'm sure it will change. Regardless, the Stars have the advantage,
X-Factor: Speed, tiredness, bad changes, and the powerplay. These teams are so evenly matched that, barring turnovers, those four things will determine the outcome. You can't take bad penalties. Injuries played a factor last season, but everyone is currently healthy. The Hintz-McDavid matchup should be fun to watch.
Fun Fact: The Stars' highest plus-minus player is +1, which is beyond historically bad. They don't even have a player in the top 100. This is worse than when the Montreal Canadiens made it to the Stanely Cup Finals in 2021. All data suggests the Oilers will win.
Prediction: This is a rematch of last season's conference finals. Both teams are slightly upgraded, but I think the Stars improved more, and they should have won last year. Now that Oettinger has regained his top form, I can't pick the Oilers with that goaltending. This should be high scoring and a banger of a series. Stars in seven, data be damned.