Will the Hurricanes Ever Lose? Ranking the Final 4 NHL Playoff Teams
After weeks of competition on the ice, we are down to the final four in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, two out in the West and two looking to get out of the East.
Who is the top team left skating in the NHL?
Here are my official rankings as we move into the conference finals on Wednesday.
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1. Carolina Hurricanes
I have to put them first, right? They haven’t lost a game. The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres went to Game 7, while the Hurricanes have felt like they haven’t played in seven months.
34-year-old Taylor Hall is playing like he turned back the clock a decade, when he was Connor McDavid before Connor McDavid, for the Edmonton Oilers. While I don’t see them making it through Montreal undefeated like the first two rounds, Carolina should be the heavy favorite out in the East.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Although the Hurricanes have the best playoff record, the Avalanche might have the most impressive playoff victory, knocking out the Minnesota Wild in the conference semis.
Fully healthy, I’d have Colorado above Carolina. So why are they only second? Superstar defenseman Cale Makar is out of Game 1 of the Western finals due to an undisclosed day-to-day injury, and that could be the deciding factor between a title and not for Colorado.
3. Montreal Canadiens
Will this team ever give up? They’ve played two rounds and had to go to Game 7 both times, with the latest coming in an overtime victory over Buffalo on the road.
The Canadiens are ahead of schedule and should only get better in the coming years, but why not take their shot now? The team’s leading point scorer in the playoffs, Lane Hutson, is 22. The team’s top goal scorer this postseason, Alex Newhook, who scored that OT winner against the Sabres, is only 25.
The future is bright in Montreal, regardless of their result against the rampaging Hurricanes.
4. Vegas Golden Knights
How good is this Las Vegas team?
Although Mitch Marner is shining bright and the team has looked good through the first two rounds, they went to Game 6 against both the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks, two inexperienced teams that weren’t legitimate contenders.
The Golden Knights are going from the kids’ table to sitting with the adults in the conference finals, and the Avalanche are another beast entirely compared to their first two opponents.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 9:22 PM.