By Basil Stroh
NHL Public Relations
* The Stars proved once again that no lead is safe in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they completed a multi-goal, third-period comeback win to take Game 1 of their Western Conference Final series. Dallas dropped its opener against Edmonton during the final-four round last year.
* The Hurricanes hope to even their Eastern Conference Final series tonight, while the Panthers look to return home with a 2-0 lead. The contest starts at 8 p.m. ET and is available on TNT, truTV and Max in the U.S. as well as on Sportsnet, TVA Sports and CBC in Canada.
* The NHL and NHLPA won Sports Event of the Year at last night’s SBJ Sports Business Awards for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which captivated sports fans all over the world. The Panthers were also named Sports Team of the Year.
Stars score series of power-play goals to complete comeback in Game 1
Miro Heiskanen (1-1—2), Mikael Granlund (1-1—2) and Matt Duchene delivered power-play goals in the opening six minutes of the third period as Dallas rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Edmonton in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. The Stars account for two of the past three multi-goal, third-period comeback wins during the Conference Finals (also Game 5 of 2020 CF) and two of the four this postseason (also Game 7 of R1).
* The Stars became the seventh team in NHL history with multiple multi-goal, third-period comeback wins in a single postseason, following the 2024 Canucks, 2017 Ducks, 2017 Senators, 1993 Islanders, 1984 Oilers and 1956 Red Wings. Dallas became the first among that group with two victories in regulation.
* The Stars became the second team since 1934 (when goals by type were officially tracked) with three power-play goals in the opening six minutes of a playoff period, following the Rangers in Game 1 of the 2014 Conference Finals (4:36 in P3).
* Tyler Seguin (2-1—3) tallied a team-leading three points to reach 23 career playoff goals since joining the Stars. He passed Brett Hull (21) for the seventh most in team history (since 1994).
* WATCH HERE for full highlights from Oilers–Stars Game 1.
NHL, NHLPA and Panthers laurelled at SBJ Sports Business Awards
The NHL and NHLPA won Sports Event of the Year for the 4 Nations Face-Off at the SBJ Sports Business Awards on Wednesday, while the reigning Stanley Cup-champion Panthers pocketed Sports Team of the Year honors. Click here to read more.
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HURRICANES LOOK TO EVEN SERIES VERSUS SURGING PANTHERS
The Hurricanes have not lost back-to-back games so far in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and will look to keep that trend alive on home ice in Game 2 to even their series with the Panthers, who have won three consecutive road games and five of their past six contests overall.
* The Hurricanes will lean on their strong home record (5-1; their only home loss this postseason was in Game 1) to draw even with the Panthers. As noted by @NHLFantasy using NHL Edge, although Carolina dropped the series opener by a 5-2 score, it had a much higher offensive zone time percentage (46.7%) than Florida (36.9%) while outshooting them by a 33-20 margin.
* Carolina is hunting its first victory in the Conference Finals/Semifinals or later since winning Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers (they also won Game 7 of the Conference Finals that postseason against the Sabres). Since then, Carolina has lost 13 straight games in Conference Finals/Semifinals play (4-0 L vs. PIT in 2009; 4-0 L vs. BOS in 2019; 4-0 L vs. FLA in 2023; Trail FLA 1-0 in 2025).
* Florida has been buoyed by the line of Eetu Luostarinen (4-9—13 in 13 GP), Brad Marchand (3-9—12 in 13 GP) and Anton Lundell (4-6—10 in 13 GP) who rank first, second and tied for fifth on the team in points this postseason. The Panthers entered Wednesday with a League-leading 26 high-danger goals in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs – the Luostarinen-Marchand-Lundell line has combined to score nine of those, with Luostarinen (4) and Lundell (4) tied with Carter Verhaeghe (4) for the team lead.
* The Panthers (6-2) have more road wins than any team this postseason and can extend their road winning streak to four games for the third consecutive postseason following a four-game run in 2024 and an eight-game stretch in 2023 that remains the second-longest road win streak in playoffs history (Kings: 10 GP in 2012). Luostarinen (4-8—12 in 8 GP) and Marchand (2-8—10 in 8 GP) rank in the top three in road points among all skaters this postseason.
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