Stanley Cup playoffs 2024: Picks for NHL conference finals

The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs field is down to four teams. The New York Rangers will take on the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals, with Game 1 slated for Wednesday night (8 ET, ESPN/ESPN+).

Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars square off against the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference finals, with Game 1 on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

Who will win each series, taking the next step toward the Cup?Our ESPN hockey experts make their predictions.

More: Playoff schedulebr/>Updated bracketbr/>Conference finals previewbr/>Offseason keys for ousted teams

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Sean Allen: Panthers in six

>Blake Bolden: Panthers in six

>John Buccigross: Panthers in seven

>Ryan Callahan: Rangers in seven

>Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in seven

>Sachin Chandan: Rangers in seven

>Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven

>Linda Cohn: Rangers in seven

>Ray Ferraro: Rangers in seven

>Emily Kaplan: Rangers in seven

>Tim Kavanagh: Rangers in seven

>Hilary Knight: Rangers in seven

>Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Panthers in seven

>Steve Levy: Rangers in seven

>Vince Masi: Panthers in seven

>Victoria Matiash:Panthers in seven

>Sean McDonough: Rangers in seven

>Mark Messier: Rangers in seven

>AJ Mleczko: Panthers in seven

>Mike Monaco: Panthers in six

>Arda Öcal: Rangers in six

>Kristen Shilton: Panthers in seven

>P.K. Subban: Rangers in seven

>Bob Wischusen: Rangers in seven

>Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six

Consensus pick: Rangers (13 out of 25 picks)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Sean Allen: Stars in six

>John Buccigross: Stars in seven

>Ryan Callahan: Stars in six

>Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Stars in six

>Sachin Chandan: Stars in six

>Ryan S. Clark: Stars in seven

>Linda Cohn: Stars in six

>Ray Ferraro: Stars in six

>Emily Kaplan: Stars in seven

>Tim Kavanagh: Stars in six

>Hilary Knight: Stars in six

>Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Stars in six

>Steve Levy: Stars in six

>Vince Masi: Oilers in seven

>Victoria Matiash: Stars in six

>Sean McDonough: Stars in six

>Mark Messier: Oilers in seven

>AJ Mleczko: Stars in seven

>Mike Monaco: Stars in seven

>Arda Öcal: Oilers in six

>Kristen Shilton: Stars in six

>P.K. Subban: Stars in six

>Bob Wischusen: Oilers in seven

>Greg Wyshynski: Oilers in six

Consensus pick: Stars (19 of 24 picks)

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