The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to the final four. In the East, the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers will meet in a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. In the West, the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will face off again in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final.

Western Conference

(Central Division No. 2) Dallas Stars vs (Pacific Division No. 3) Edmonton Oilers

The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers are set to meet in the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year. Last season, Edmonton won the series in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Dallas enters the series with goaltender Jake Oettinger, who has been a consistent force in the net throughout the 2025 playoffs. He leads all goaltenders in shots faced, total saves, and minutes played. His clutch performances have propelled the Stars to a third straight conference final, including a perfect 3-0 record in overtime games during these playoffs. Two of those wins came in series-clinching games.

The Oilers will once again lean on their dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid leads the team with 14 assists while Draisaitl has tallied 16 points so far. However, goaltending remains a concern. Stuart Skinner lost the starting job after the opening two games against Los Angeles but reclaimed the net after Calvin Pickard suffered an injury. Skinner responded with shutout victories in Games Four and Five against Vegas, including an overtime win.

For Dallas, Oettinger must contain McDavid and Draisaitl while Mikko Rantanen must maintain his high level of play in crucial moments. For Edmonton, the key will be consistent contributions from the supporting cast in addition to their top stars. If the Stars receive continued strong goaltending and Rantanen keeps delivering, Dallas has the edge.

Eastern Conference

(Metropolitan Division No. 2) Carolina Hurricanes vs (Atlantic Division No. 3) Florida Panthers

The defending champion Florida Panthers are back in the Eastern Conference Final and will face the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of the 2023 series, which Florida won in a sweep.

Carolina has a deep roster built around a strong defensive style and a relentless attack that generates high-quality scoring chances. Their special teams have been dominant in the postseason with a nearly flawless penalty kill and a power play that has scored nine times in ten games. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been outstanding, allowing only 12 goals in over nine appearances.

Florida needed seven games to get past the Maple Leafs and now seeks a third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. With a roster rich in playoff experience, the Panthers have shown an ability to adapt on the fly and exploit their opponents’ weaknesses without sacrificing their identity. Their killer instinct in decisive moments remains one of their greatest assets.

This series will come down to defense and goaltending. Carolina’s tactical discipline and elite special teams give them a strong foundation. However, Florida’s depth and experience may tip the balance in what promises to be a tightly contested matchup.