NHL Update: Semis: Hurricanes/Panthers And Stars/Oilers

The N.H.L. semi-final round is set after the defending champion, Florida Panthers advanced to that round for the third straight season, scoring thrice within 6 and change of the 2nd period, in an eventual (6-1) road rout of the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 7 last night.

“Fla” will meet Carolina (Hurricanes), (that area has an NFL team named the Panthers), in a semi in just the team’s second ever ‘offs clash, with the other recent, just 2 years ago when the Panthers won 3 1 goal games, 2 in overtime, one in a 4 OT such, and swept the Hurricanes.

Carolina has home advantage and is a slight game 1 “fave” with Florida a slight series such. The Hurricanes are (5-0) at home in these ‘offs and only they played into at least the second round without losing at home (only prediction in this too close to call series is that “Caro” will lose a home tilt within it).

In the other “semi,” set after the Dallas Stars “motored” to a second straight semi vs the Edmonton Oilers on Harley’s OT goal (first name Thomas and pictured below) in #6, begins Wednesday night with Edmonton, a la Florida (Florida 7’d Edmonton in last year’s final) a sans home advantage, slight series “fave” and #1 underdog.

Thomas Harley, who scored the #6 overtime winner for Dallas, is pictured above.

This will be the 8th ‘offs clash contested between the Stars and Oilers with Dallas having won 5 of the previous 7, 5 of the 6 played between the teams all from (’97-’03), as noted but not directly above, Edmonton “semi’d” Dallas in last season’s semis clash.