Meanwhile, the Panthers defeated their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, the Toronto Maple Leafs in a seven-game second round, and the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.

A year after winning the Conn Smythe Trophy despite coming up short in the Stanley Cup Final, Connor McDavid is favored to be named NHL Stanley Cup Playoff MVP.

Connor McDavid is an even-money favorite to win the Conn Smythe, which would make the Oilers captain the fourth player to win the trophy in consecutive years but the first to do it despite being on the losing team in at least one of those years.