If the conference final matchups were anticlimactic, at least they set us up for an exciting Stanley Cup Final. The Florida Panthers took care of the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, and the Edmonton Oilers did the same with the Dallas Stars. Both teams have also dominated the competition throughout most of the playoffs, all leading up to this, a Cup Final rematch between the Oilers and Panthers.
The 2024 Final was arguably the best series of the past decade or more. The Oilers almost pulled off the rare reverse sweep, which has only happened four times in the playoffs and once in the Final (in the 1940s, nonetheless), and Game 7 came down to the wire. The Panthers won the final game 2-1, and that moment is etched into the memory of both fan bases, for better or worse.
Related: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Hub
This rematch will have it all – on-ice matchups, star players, clashes in playing style, and lessons for the rest of the NHL. There’s also some history here. It’s why this Final is shaping up to be another one to remember.
Oilers Trio of Star Players vs Panthers Elite Five
This is not the same Oilers team as we’ve seen in the past. They have depth, defend well in all three zones, and their goaltending is good enough. At the same time, the Oilers are still led by a trio of stars. Connor McDavid is the best player in the game, while Leon Draisaitl is a Hart Trophy finalist, and Evan Bouchard, for all the criticism he received this season, has proven in the playoffs that he’s a star who can take over games.
The Oilers trio will be up against the Panthers’ fantastic five, including elite talents Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Sam Reinhart. All five forwards bring something different to the table. Tkachuk will set the tone. He is the power forward on the wing who is tough to prepare for. Barkov is the two-way center leading the team in playoff points and quietly making his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Reinhart is the scorer who is having a remarkable season on defense. Bennett is the physical center to complement Barkov’s speed. Then there’s Verhaeghe, one of the great scorers who is often overlooked, yet he has 30 goals in his last 72 playoff…
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