Carolina Hurricanes have established themselves as the clear frontrunner in the Eastern Conference playoffs through an undefeated 8-0 postseason run that includes sweeps of the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. Their regular-season dominance, finishing atop the conference with superior goal differential and depth across forward lines and defensive pairings, underpins the strong trader consensus around their implied probability. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres remain locked in a tightly contested second-round series, with the winner facing the prospect of overcoming Carolina’s momentum, home-ice advantage in later rounds, and proven ability to control play in high-stakes matchups. Recent series shifts and injury recoveries for key contributors continue to influence short-term sentiment without altering the broader outlook shaped by current form and historical playoff patterns.