The Carolina Hurricanes became the second team to clinch their spot in the conference final round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars are each one win away from winning their second-round series and moving on to the conference finals.

This week focuses on the Carolina Hurricanes entering Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. The calendar also goes back 54 years to their New England ancestors and how the original Whalers franchise evolved into the current pride of North Carolina.

The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs field is down to the final four. The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers face off in a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, while the Western Conference finals are a return bout from 2024 between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers.

The Hurricanes may not be the most star-studded team still in the playoffs, but they have the best shot of winning the Cup right now.

DALLAS -- Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, and the Dallas Stars defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round at American Airlines Center on Sunday.

The Winnipeg Jets faced Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen seven times during the regular season, but the postseason version has been a different story.

The Stanley Cup playoffs continue with two elimination games. Washington Capitals host Carolina Hurricanes. Winnipeg Jets will play against Dallas Stars. Both Washington and Winnipeg are down 3-1 in their series.