With just a handful of games remaining this season for both the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers, neither has a valid chance at the playoffs now. However, looking back 12 years ago, to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, both teams were in much different circumstances.
After the conclusion of the 2005-06 regular season, the Canes and Oilers both entered the playoffs looking to make a deep run. Edmonton entered as an eight seed, and an underdog to even make it past the first round. Meanwhile, the Canes won the Southeast Division, and had a ton of momentum entering a first round matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.