The conference final round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs is set to begin May 17. While the two Western Conference series rage on, we know the identity of the last two teams standing in the East.
In order for you to get up to speed before the Eastern Conference finals begin, here are the key players to know, the series schedule, notable stats and more.
Eastern Conference finals
Schedule
Game 1 (at CAR) Game 2 (at CAR) Game 3 (at FLA) Game 4 (at FLA) Game 5 (at CAR)* Game 6 (at FLA)* Game 7 (at CAR)*
The Hurricanes eliminate the Devils with an OT winner by Jesper Fast in Game 5.
Notes from ESPN Stats & Information
This will be the seventh time that three brothers have squared off in a series in the Stanley Cup playoffs, as Eric Staal and Marc Staal of the Panthers take on brother Jordan Staal of the Hurricanes. The prior occasions:
1992 division semifinals: Brent Sutter (CHI) def. Rich and Ron Sutter (STL)
1987 division finals: Ron Sutter (PHI) def. Duane and Brent Sutter (NYI)
1985 division finals: Ron Sutter (PHI) def. Duane and Brent Sutter (NYI)
1968 semifinals: Barclay and Bob Plager (STL) def. Bill Plager (MIN)
1924 Stanley Cup semifinals: Bobby and Billy Boucher (MTL) def. Frank Boucher (Vancouver Millionaires)
1924 NHL Final: Bobby and Billy Boucher (MTL) def. George Boucher (OTT)
The Panthers beat a team that had 43 more points and 19 more points than them in the regular season (Boston Bruins), and now will face a team that finished with 21 more points than them. The Panthers will be the fourth team to face three teams that had at least 19 more points in the regular season, joining:
1981 New York Rangers: preliminary round vs. Kings; quarterfinals vs. Blues; lost semifinals to Islanders
1984 Montreal Canadiens: division semifinals vs. Bruins; division finals vs. Nordiques; lost conference finals to Islanders
1991 Minnesota North Stars: division semifinals vs. Blackhawks; division finals vs. Blues; lost Stanley Cup Final vs. Penguins
Both the Hurricanes and Panthers have been exceptional at defusing opposing offensive attacks when they reach the neutral zone. Per Stathletes, here is where the two clubs rank among playoff teams in these categories:
Neutral zone steals per game: Hurricanes 1st | Panthers 3rd
Neutral zone pass interceptions per game: Panthers 1st | Hurricanes 2nd
Neutral zone deflections causing turnovers per game: Hurricanes 1st | Panthers 2nd
The Hurricanes are back in the Eastern Conference finals for the fifth time in franchise history. Each of the past two instances Carolina made it there, it was swept in those series. The Hurricanes’ last win in the Eastern Conference finals came in Game 7 of the 2006 edition. Carolina went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.
This is the second time the Panthers have made the Eastern Conference finals. The previous trip was in 1996, when they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games but were swept in the Stanley Cup Final by the Colorado Avalanche.
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army will begin selling alcoholic beverages at football games at Michie Stadium beginning with its game Friday against Tarleton State, athletic director Tom Theodorakis announced Wednesday.
Army was the last service academy to not sell alcohol at football games. Air Force began sales in 2017 and Navy in 2021.
“The opportunity to purchase alcohol has become common practice at college athletic venues across the country, and we’re pleased to introduce it here at West Point as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the gameday experience,” Theodorakis said, adding that Army is committed to ensuring a safe and family-friendly environment for fans.
Fans will be able to purchase beer and ready-to-drink cocktails with a limit of two drinks per transaction. A portion of the revenue from alcohol sales will help support Army’s other 29 sports.
BOSTON — Harvard and Yale will play The Game at Fenway Park next season, the second time the rivalry has moved to the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.
The Nov. 21, 2026, game will be the 142nd meeting between the Ivy League schools — the third most-played rivalry in college football. Yale leads the series 71-61-8, including the last three years.
Harvard won the 2018 game 45-27 at Fenway, the first time The Game was played off campus since an 1894 meeting that was so violent the Harvard faculty voted to disband the football program.
Fenway has hosted football since its opening year in 1912, and it served as the home of the AFL’s Boston Patriots from 1963-68. More recently, the ballpark has hosted some Boston College and high school football games and the Fenway Bowl.
Fenway also has hosted concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, big air skiing, Irish hurling and pickleball.
Alabama will be without team captain and starting defensive tackle Tim Keenan III for Saturday’s opener against Florida State after he suffered a high ankle sprain Tuesday in practice, sources told ESPN.
Keenan was scheduled to undergo a tightrope surgical procedure Wednesday and is expected to miss multiple games, but sources said Alabama expects him back at some point this season. The Crimson Tide face UL Monroe in Week 2, Wisconsin in Week 3 and then have a bye week before traveling to Georgia for the SEC opener on Sept. 27.
Coach Kalen DeBoer said earlier Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference that Keenan was still being evaluated after suffering a lower-body injury and would “probably not” be full go for the game.
Keenan, a fifth-year senior, is one of the anchors of an Alabama defensive line that should be one of the strengths of the team. He’s a two-year starter and one of the strongest leaders on the team. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Beaman and true freshman London Simmons are next in line to step in for Keenan, who was second on the team a year ago with 7.5 tackles for loss.
Offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts‘ status for Saturday’s opener remains uncertain, according to DeBoer. The fifth-year senior, who has started 21 games over the past two seasons, has been “very limited” in recent practices as he works his way through the NCAA concussion protocol.
The Crimson Tide were already going to be without starting running back Jam Miller, who dislocated his collarbone in a scrimmage and will miss multiple games. DeBoer told ESPN last week he expected Miller to be back for the Georgia game.
On3.com was the first to report the news of Keenan’s surgery and the expectation he would miss multiple games.