It’s time to start handing out hardware in the NHL as the playoffs have reached the conference finals.
The Prince of Wales Trophy and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl — and more important a spot in the Stanley Cup Final — are on the line as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals while the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche battle in the Western Conference finals.
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The Canadiens and Hurricanes have taken just about opposite paths to the East finals. Carolina has played just eight games this postseason, becoming the first team to sweep its first two series since the first round went to best-of-seven in 1987. The Habs enter having played the most possible games (14), fresh off a second consecutive Game 7 win (this time in OT).
Out West it’s a battle of heavyweights, with the 2022 champions (Avalanche) and 2023 champions (Golden Knights) squaring off. Will the Avalanche, the NHL’s best team in 2025-26, continue their march?
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
The NHL is announcing the finalists for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who is in the running (listed alphabetically):
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
The NHL is announcing the finalists for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who is in the running (listed alphabetically):
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Jack Adams Award (coach) finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Jack Adams finalist: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Dan Muse
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Jack Adams finalist: Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Vezina Trophy (goaltender) New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Vezina finalist: Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Vezina finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) finalist: Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Lady Byng finalist: Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar.
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Lady Byng finalist: Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player) finalist: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Ted Lindsay finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Ted Lindsay finalist: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton Trophy (perseverance) nominee: Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Detroit Red Wings right wing Dominik Shine
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Nashville Predators right wing Ozzy Wiesblatt
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: New York Islanders center Kyle Palmieri
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: New York Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Garrett Wilson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: San Jose Sharks goalie Laurent Brossoit
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin
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NHL awards finalists: Who’s up for 2025-26 regular season awards?
Masterton nominee: Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews
USA TODAY Sports’ NHL experts make their predictions for the conference finals:
Eastern Conference finals predictions: Hurricanes vs. Canadiens
Kevin Skiver: Hurricanes in 5. The Habs deserve a ton of credit for what they’ve done. Montreal brings its 14 playoff games so far up against Carolina’s eight, with the Hurricanes having swept their first two series. It’s a question of rest vs. rust, one as old as time. But the ‘Canes benefit from their extended break and take down the team that has proved to be the most fun to watch this postseason.
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Jace Evans: Canadiens in 6. It is perhaps ill-advised to pick against a team that has literally not lost a game yet in the playoffs, but I picked the Canadiens to reach the Stanley Cup Final before the playoffs began and I’m staying on this magic ride. They are young, but they have the skill to hang with the Hurricanes. And they appear to have the goaltending.
Mike Brehm: Hurricanes in 6. The Canadiens will be a lot tougher opponent for the Hurricanes than the Senators and Flyers, but Carolina’s sweeps gave the team a chance to rest up any injuries. Montreal has played two seven-game series. A rested Hurricanes team will prevail because it will be able to continue its high-energy game.
Western Conference finals predictions: Avalanche vs. Golden Knights
Kevin Skiver: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights took down a few upstart teams in Utah and Anaheim, but now they run into a team that is shaping up to be as much a force of nature as its namesake. Colorado is back in the conference finals for the first time since 2022, and has cruised past the Kings and Wild. Jared Bednar’s Avs get past the Golden Knights, and Vegas enters the offseason with a choice to make on John Tortorella.
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Jace Evans: Avalanche in 6. When they’re not preventing their former coach from interviewing with other teams or skirting league media rules, the Golden Knights are pretty good at hockey! I think the Avs are just a cut above, though. Colorado is 8-1 these playoffs and what’s been most impressive is it’s not just the big guns getting it done; 17 different Avalanche players have scored in their nine playoff games.
Mike Brehm: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights have the playoffs’ leading scorer (Mitch Marner) and goal scorer (Pavel Dorofeyev), but the Avalanche have the best remaining player in Nathan MacKinnon and scoring depth throughout the lineup. Colorado has won eight of nine games with a seemingly banged-up Cale Makar limited to five points.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff predictions: Staff picks for conference finals matchups