The NHL’s 1967-68 expansion era continues to make history as the 2025 Stanley Cup Final features a rematch between last year’s finalists, the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Last season, the Panthers clinched their first-ever championship in a thrilling seven-game series, but this year the Oilers hold the home-ice advantage, starting Game 1 on Wednesday.
This marks the first back-to-back Finals matchup since the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins faced off in 2008 and 2009, with Detroit winning initially and Pittsburgh avenging the following year. Notably, the Montreal Canadiens also had consecutive Finals appearances in the late ’60s and late ’70s. Both Florida and Edmonton swept through their Conference Finals in five games—Panthers over the Carolina Hurricanes, and Oilers eliminating the Dallas Stars for the second consecutive season. Florida nearly squandered a 3-0 lead in last year’s Final but managed a close one-goal victory against Edmonton in their last regular-season meeting.
The Panthers, now in their third straight Stanley Cup Final, are the ninth franchise to achieve this since the playoff expansion to 16 teams in 1980. They are also the latest Florida-based team to reach the Finals, following the Tampa Bay Lightning’s three consecutive appearances from 2020 to 2022. Meanwhile, Edmonton makes its ninth Finals appearance overall and fourth against a Florida opponent. This is the Oilers’ third consecutive consecutive Finals trip since their back-to-back Cup wins in 1987 and 1988.
Though the Oilers were underdogs last year, star center Connor McDavid stood out by becoming just the sixth player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as part of the losing team, finishing the playoffs with 42 points. McDavid leads the 2025 Stanley Cup Final scoring with 26 points across 16 games, closely trailed by teammate Leon Draisaitl with 25, while Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov leads Florida with 17 points.
In goal, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky boasts a 2.11 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage, closely matched by Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner, who has a 2.53 GAA and .904 save percentage. Both goalies share the postseason lead with three shutouts each. Despite last year’s loss, sportsbooks favor Edmonton to win the Cup with -120 odds, while Florida sits at around +100. McDavid is also a favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy with odds near even.
My prediction for the Stanley Cup champion is the Edmonton Oilers, a team that exceeded expectations this postseason by defeating formidable opponents like the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars. After a rocky start, Edmonton went 12-2 and relied on key goaltender changes and contributions from role players, alongside the return of top defender Matthias Ekholm. The Oilers’ high-powered offense has been consistent, scoring at least three goals in nearly every playoff game.
For the Conn Smythe Trophy, Connor McDavid is the top pick. His near-historic postseason performance, highlighted by multiple multi-point games and a dominant presence throughout the playoffs, aligns him with legends like Bernie Parent, Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby. Unless the Panthers can contain him better than last year, expect McDavid to add another accolade to his growing collection. Sergei Bobrovsky remains a strong challenger if he can maintain his stellar play and lead Florida to repeat their championship.
Stay tuned to Sportsline’s Projection Model for comprehensive predictions covering all Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Fan Take: This rematch between the Panthers and Oilers underscores the rising rivalry and the fierce competition at the core of modern NHL hockey. With star power like McDavid and Barkov leading their squads, this Finals series is not only thrilling for fans but also a showcase of the sport’s growing talent and intensity, promising an exciting future for hockey.
