(Pacific Division No. 3) Edmonton Oilers vs (Atlantic Division No. 3) Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup championship last season, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a dramatic seven-game series in 2024. After taking a commanding 3–0 lead, the Panthers saw the Oilers fight back with three straight wins to force a decisive Game 7. Florida ultimately prevailed in the final game to win the Stanley Cup. This season, both teams are back in the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers aim to defend their championship, while the Oilers look to win their first title since 1990. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Edmonton Oilers
Since falling behind 0–2 in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers have gone 12–2, winning both of their next series against the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars in five games each. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have led the way offensively, ranking first and second in playoff scoring with 26 and 25 points, respectively, through 16 games.
The Oilers have proven their ability to make key adjustments, forcing comebacks while also shutting down opponents’ momentum. They set a Stanley Cup Playoff record with five consecutive comeback wins this postseason. Most impressively, after giving up six goals to Dallas in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, Edmonton allowed just five goals total over the final four games of that series.
Goaltending was an early concern. Starter Stuart Skinner was benched after giving up 12 goals in the first two games against the Kings, with Calvin Pickard stepping in for six games. However, when Pickard was injured in Game 2 of the Vegas series, Skinner returned to the net for Game 3 and has been stellar since. He shut out the Golden Knights in the final two games of that series and had another shut out against the Stars in the conference finals. Over the final three games against Dallas, Skinner posted a .920 save percentage, helping Edmonton return to the Stanley Cup Final.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season and are looking to capture back-to-back championships after winning the Cup last season. Their playoff run this season has included a five-game series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, seven-games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a five-games over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Florida’s success has come from its depth and commitment to team defense. 19 different players have scored at least one point during the playoffs, and the team’s collective defensive buy-in has helped neutralize some of the NHL’s top offensive threats. Notably, the Panthers held the NHL’s highest-scoring regular-season team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, to just 12 goals in their five-game first-round series.
The Panthers are a balanced and consistent team and have gotten clutch performances from their stars while also benefiting from key contributions by role players. They’ve been strong on the road, with an 8–2 record through the first three rounds, compared to a 4–3 record playing at home. Historically, teams that win games on the road tend to win the Cup, with six of the last seven teams to win at least eight road playoff games have gone on to hoist the Stanley Cup.
