Badgers in the NHL: Five skaters advance to conference finals
May 21, 2024 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Three of four teams remaining have at least one UW alum
MADISON, Wis. – The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue with five Badgers – one in the East and four in the West – on three different teams advancing to their respective conference finals.
In the East, defenseman K'Andre Miller and the top overall-seeded New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes, four-games-to-two, in the second round of the playoffs. The Rangers will face the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals, with game one set for Wednesday, May 22, at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
In 10 playoff games played so far this season, Miller has one goal and three points.
On to the next. The work continues. #NOQUITINNY pic.twitter.com/lrwv0AdMl6
— x - New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 17, 2024
The Rangers' opponent, the Florida Panthers, eliminated UW alum Trent Frederic and the Boston Bruins in six games. Frederic, a forward, finishes his 2024 postseason with a career-high three goals and five points in 13 games played, with both of his assists coming in the second round.
7️⃣3️⃣ strikes. pic.twitter.com/3uzr58NbZz
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 15, 2024
While there are no Badgers skating for Florida, Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito earned a law degree from Wisconsin and served as a graduate assistant during his time as a UW law student.
In the West, Joe Pavelski, Craig Smith and Ryan Suter, the three Badgers on the top conference-seeded Dallas Stars, advanced to the Western Conference finals after eliminating the Colorado Avalanche, four-games-to-two. The Stars will play former Wisconsin forward Dylan Holloway and the Edmonton Oilers in round three with game one scheduled for Thursday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. CT on TNT.
Defenseman Suter opened the scoring for the Stars in round two, bringing his 2024 postseason total to one goal and three points in 13 games played.
#BadgersintheBigs on the board https://t.co/lDBtImKsez
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) May 8, 2024
In 13 postseason games played this year, Pavelski has one goal and four points. The forward scored his first goal of the 2024 postseason in game five of round two, bringing his career playoff goal total to 74. His 74 goals are good for the 13th-most in NHL history and rank him first among active skaters. Pavelski also tallied the sole assist on Matt Duchene's series-winning goal in double overtime of game six.
There it is#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/OCrds6b9KG
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) May 16, 2024
Forward Smith has two assists in 11 playoff games played this year.
To clinch their spot in the conference finals, Dylan Holloway and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Vancouver Canucks, four-games-to-three, in a suspenseful seven-game series. Holloway has three goals and four points in 12 postseason games played so far.
Skates past three players and a goalie 😳
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) May 19, 2024
What a goal by Dylan Holloway!!!#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/mcyNDWBOGg
Since both of the teams in the Western Conference Final have at least one UW alum on their roster, at least one Badger is guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
A pair of Wisconsin alumni in the AHL are also continuing their quest for the Calder Cup in round three of the AHL playoffs.
After receiving a bye to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, Cleveland Monsters' defenseman Corson Ceulemans and forward Roman Ahcan, won a best-of-five series, 3-1, against the Belleville Senators. In the North Division finals, the Monsters are currently up two wins to none against the Syracuse Crunch, with game three set for May 22 at 7 p.m. Cleveland serves as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
Complete list of Badgers advancing to round three of the NHL playoffs:
Eastern Conference
New York Rangers - K'Andre Miller (2018-20)
Western Conference
Dallas Stars - Joe Pavelski (2004-06), Craig Smith (2009-11), Ryan Suter (2003-04)
Edmonton Oilers - Dylan Holloway (2019-21)
