However, with the Game 2 blowout added to the Panthers' 5-2 win in Game 1, nothing has been close about this series. The Panthers - who have outscored their opponents 21-4 on the road in the postseason - scored three goals in the first period,

Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand, left, is separated by officials from Carolina Hurricanes' Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the third period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) AP

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are half over, 12 of the 16 teams to qualify for the postseason already have been eliminated. Among those knocked out include the Winnipeg Jets, who won the Presidents’ Trophy as top regular-season team, and the Washington Capitals, who finished atop the Eastern Conference this season.