NHL sees first all-South final four ever

For the first time in history, the final four teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs "are all located south of Pennsylvania." The Stars "ensured an all-south Final Four" with a win over the Kraken in Game 7 last night, and now they will move on to face the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. The Hurricanes will battle the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. The "closest the NHL has ever been previously to an all-Sun Belt final four" was 2020, when the Lightning, Stars and Golden Knights were joined by the Islanders in the conference finals. This year, Las Vegas "is the northernmost outpost for the conference finals" (SPORTSNET.ca, 5/15).