New York Rangers Daily: Why Panthers-Hurricanes conference final distasteful; Maple Leafs misery

It’s bad enough that the New York Rangers didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. But this upcoming Eastern Conference Final? Perhaps only if the New Jersey Devils were participating could it be worse for a Rangers fan than the Florida Panthers against the Carolina Hurricanes.

For sure, once you’re knocked out of the playoffs, or fail to even qualify for them, it shouldn’t matter who is playing or even who the Stanley Cup champion winds up to be. But that’s not reality. Whether a fan remains fully engaged in the playoffs or not, the true die-hards typically don’t want teams they hate to have championship success.

In these playoffs, it would’ve been most irritating for the Blueshirts Faithful had the Devils made a run. Injuries, and a stifling Hurricanes team, ended that possibility in the first round, though.

But out of the remaining teams in the East, it really couldn’t be worse than Hurricanes and Panthers. Sure, it would’ve been frustrating to watch one of the upstarts that beat the Rangers out for a playoff berth make run. But really, could you dial up a lot of hatred toward the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens?

An argument could be made that a Toronto Maple Leafs run would’ve been something to root against for Rangers fans. Now there’s actually a more miserable fan base than the Blueshirt Faithful — 58 years not winning the Cup does that. You might remember what that does to you.

But really, the Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals, there wouldn’t have been much vitriol there. Even Alex Ovechkin isn’t quite the villain he used to be.

Hurricanes and Panthers, though? That’s different. Even though the Rangers handled the Hurricanes twice recently in the second round of the playoffs — rallying from 2-0 and 3-2 down to win in seven in 2022; before taking them out in six games in 2024 — these teams have become intense rivals the past several years as each turned into a Stanley Cup contender. Since 2019, the Rangers (two) and Hurricanes (three) have been in five of the past seven East finals. It was fun knocking Carolina out those two times to reach the conference final, but there’s no enjoyment seeing the Hurricanes make it back again this spring.

Of course, there’s no love lost with the Panthers. Not only did they extinguish the Rangers’ Stanley Cup dreams a year ago, pounding them into submission in six games during the East final, but it really started the whole downward spiral for the Rangers since. They’re an infuriating opponent, one that pounded the crap out of the Rangers last spring, then won the Stanley Cup — when all signs seemed to point to the first Blueshirts parade down the Canyon of Heroes in 30 years.

So, there’s plenty to dislike about this 2025 Eastern Conference Final matchup. Either the Hurricanes or Panthers is headed to the Stanley Cup Final. No Rangers fan wants to see that.

But maybe you found the remedy to all of this already. Focus on the Knicks. That’s a team for New Yorkers to rally around.

New York Rangers news

Our Tom Castro broke down one of Mike Sullivan’s biggest challenges as Rangers coach next season: helping Mika Zibanejad resurrect his game and putting him in the best situation to succeed.

Not much happened at the 2025 World Hockey Championships on Sunday from a Rangers perspective, but the day before, Juuso Parssinen scored a pretty fancy goal, his third of the tournament for Finland.

Some good Rangers viewing Monday afternoon when Parssinen and Finland take on Will Cuylle and Canada at the Worlds.

ICYMI: here’s a deeper dive into the pros and cons of the Rangers pursuing free agent forward Adam Gaudette this summer.

NHL news and rumors

Sportsnaut: The Panthers showed championship mettle and Maple Leafs are left with more playoff misery. Our Game 7 takeaways after the Panthers hammer the Maple Leafs 6-1 at Scotiabank Arena.

Sportsnet: In a frightening moment, referee Chris Rooney was high-sticked accidentally in the face by Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola at the start of the second period and left the game bleeding profusely. Originally, there was major concern Rooney was hit in the eye. But it was later reported, Rooney sustained a substantial gash above the eye, received stitches and would be OK.

Daily Faceoff: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews didn’t mince words after the loss Sunday, saying Toronto had “too many passengers” in their lopsided Game 7 defeat.

Sportsnet: Mitch Marner wouldn’t say if this was his swan song and last game with the Maple Leafs. But it sure felt like it. Marner is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Sportsnaut: Here’s a breakdown of the top free agent forwards, with Marner at the top of the list.

NHL.com: Detailing why the Panthers believe — and showed — they are “built for Game 7.”

TSN: As if being eliminated in a 2-1 Game 6 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars wasn’t bad enough, Winnipeg Jets coach Scott Arniel revealed Saturday that a lower-body injury sustained by star defenseman Josh Morrissey is “not good.” We should find out more Monday or Tuesday.

NHL.com: Here are the complete schedules for the conference finals.

WATCH: The final score may say otherwise, but Sergei Bobrovsky played a massive role — especially in the first period — to lead the Panthers to their Game 7 win against the Maple Leafs.