Stanley Cup Final player rankings: Hart, Andersen,...
Key takeaways
- On the one hand, it's not a surprise to see the Carolina Hurricanes skating for Lord Stanley's Cup because they were the East's best team by record all season.
- But is anyone really that surprised to see Vegas in the Final?
- In other words, this Final makes as much sense as you want it to -- and as little as you need it to.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
On the one hand, it's not a surprise to see the Carolina Hurricanes skating for Lord Stanley's Cup because they were the East's best team by record all season. Then again, this team had a long history of falling short of the Final before this year -- a trend the Hurricanes finally defied.
The Vegas Golden Knights should be considered a major surprise because they lost more games than they won during the regular season, fired their coach in late March and got here by pulling off a stunning sweep over the heavily favored Colorado Avalanche. But is anyone really that surprised to see Vegas in the Final? This team won the Cup as recently as three years ago, and still has plenty of talent.
In other words, this Final makes as much sense as you want it to -- and as little as you need it to.