* The Stars proved once again that no lead is safe in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they completed a multi-goal, third-period comeback win to take Game 1 of their Western Conference Final series. Dallas dropped its opener against Edmonton during the final-four round last year.
* The Hurricanes hope to even their Eastern Conference Final series tonight, while the Panthers look to return home with a 2-0 lead. The contest starts at 8 p.m. ET and is available on TNT, truTV and Max in the U.S. as well as on Sportsnet, TVA Sports and CBC in Canada.
* The NHL and NHLPA won Sports Event of the Year at last night’s SBJ Sports Business Awards for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which captivated sports fans all over the world. The Panthers were also named Sports Team of the Year.
Stars score series of power-play goals to complete comeback in Game 1
Miro Heiskanen (1-1—2), Mikael Granlund (1-1—2) and Matt Duchene delivered power-play goals in the opening six minutes of the third period as Dallas rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Edmonton in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. The Stars account for two of the past three multi-goal, third-period comeback wins during the Conference Finals (also Game 5 of 2020 CF) and two of the four this postseason (also Game 7 of R1).
* The Stars became the seventh team in NHL history with multiple multi-goal, third-period comeback wins in a single postseason, following the 2024 Canucks, 2017 Ducks, 2017 Senators, 1993 Islanders, 1984 Oilers and 1956 Red Wings. Dallas became the first among that group with two victories in regulation.
* The Stars became the second team since 1934 (when goals by type were officially tracked) with three power-play goals in the opening six minutes of a playoff period, following the Rangers in Game 1 of the 2014 Conference Finals (4:36 in P3).
* Tyler Seguin (2-1—3) tallied a team-leading three points to reach 23 career playoff goals since joining the Stars. He passed Brett Hull (21) for the seventh most in team history (since 1994).
* WATCH HERE for full highlights from Oilers-Stars Game 1.
NHL, NHLPA and Panthers laurelled at SBJ Sports Business Awards
The NHL and NHLPA won Sports Event of the Year for the 4 Nations Face-Off at the SBJ Sports Business Awards on Wednesday, while the reigning Stanley Cup-champion Panthers pocketed Sports Team of the Year honors. Click here to read more.
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HURRICANES LOOK TO EVEN SERIES VERSUS SURGING PANTHERS
The Hurricanes have not lost back-to-back games so far in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and will look to keep that trend alive on home ice in Game 2 to even their series with the Panthers, who have won three consecutive road games and five of their past six contests overall.
* The Hurricanes will lean on their strong home record (5-1; their only home loss this postseason was in Game 1) to draw even with the Panthers. As noted by @NHLFantasy using NHL Edge, although Carolina dropped the series opener by a 5-2 score, it had a much higher offensive zone time percentage (46.7%) than Florida (36.9%) while outshooting them by a 33-20 margin.
* Carolina is hunting its first victory in the Conference Finals/Semifinals or later since winning Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers (they also won Game 7 of the Conference Finals that postseason against the Sabres). Since then, Carolina has lost 13 straight games in Conference Finals/Semifinals play (4-0 L vs. PIT in 2009; 4-0 L vs. BOS in 2019; 4-0 L vs. FLA in 2023; Trail FLA 1-0 in 2025).
* Florida has been buoyed by the line of Eetu Luostarinen (4-9—13 in 13 GP), Brad Marchand (3-9—12 in 13 GP) and Anton Lundell (4-6—10 in 13 GP) who rank first, second and tied for fifth on the team in points this postseason. The Panthers entered Wednesday with a League-leading 26 high-danger goals in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs – the Luostarinen-Marchand-Lundell line has combined to score nine of those, with Luostarinen (4) and Lundell (4) tied with Carter Verhaeghe (4) for the team lead.
* The Panthers (6-2) have more road wins than any team this postseason and can extend their road winning streak to four games for the third consecutive postseason following a four-game run in 2024 and an eight-game stretch in 2023 that remains the second-longest road win streak in playoffs history (Kings: 10 GP in 2012). Luostarinen (4-8—12 in 8 GP) and Marchand (2-8—10 in 8 GP) rank in the top three in road points among all skaters this postseason.
