The Carolina Hurricanes have punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in eight seasons under head coach Rod Brind’Amour. The team eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-0 series sweep, capped by a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 4.
This marks the second consecutive season the Hurricanes have reached the conference finals, and the fourth time since Brind’Amour took the helm in 2018. However, their previous three appearances in the Eastern Finals ended in disappointment, with a combined record of 1-12 (0-4 loss to Boston in 2019, 0-4 and 1-4 losses to Florida in 2023 and 2025, respectively).
In franchise history, this is the seventh time Carolina has advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals (or the equivalent semifinal round), with previous appearances in 2002, 2006, and 2009. The last time the Hurricanes won a series at this stage was in 2006, when they defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-3.
Carolina’s opponent in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals will be either the Buffalo Sabres or the Montreal Canadiens, with the series currently tied at 1-1 after two games.
