Panthers Headed Back to the Final | Edmonton Oilers One Win Away, Carolina Hurricanes Hit a Ceiling

The Florida Panthers are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year after shutting down the Carolina Hurricanes. On today’s Locked On NHL, Nick Zararis and Hunter Hodies break down Florida’s elite core, from Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett to Sergei Bobrovsky and Seth Jones, and why this team continues to dominate. They also dive into the Hurricanes' fatal flaw: a lack of elite, difference-making players who can win high-leverage games. Finally, they explore how the Edmonton Oilers have overwhelmed the Dallas Stars with superior depth, defensive execution, and playoff poise from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and Stuart Skinner.

0:00 Intro: Florida Panthers reach Stanley Cup Final

5:03 Panthers' success through trades and free agency

11:42 Carolina Hurricanes' playoff struggles and limitations

17:07 Hurricanes need to add high-end talent

22:36 Oilers dominating Stars in Western Conference Final

26:31 Oilers' depth and Evan Bouchard's playoff performance

30:10 Outro: Looking ahead to the Stanley Cup Final