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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference final X factors, predictions

The conference final round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs is upon us, and just as everyone predicted, it's the Carolina Hurricanes matching up with the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference, with the Vegas Golden Knights squaring off against the Dallas Stars in the West.

There is no shortage of superstar wattage on display -- with future Hall of Famers skating in each series -- nor an absence of captivating storylines.

To help get you up to speed before the puck drops on Game 1 of the East matchup Thursday night, we're bringing you a mega-preview, breaking down each team in five different categories and offering our predictions on which clubs will head to the Stanley Cup Final.