Since 1967, the 2025 Stanley Cup Final marks the fifth time there was a finals rematch as the Florida Panthers downed the Edmonton Oilers a year ago. The likes of Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby were able to win the second-halves of their rematches. Will the Connor McDavid led Oilers be able to accomplish the ultimate task this second go-round? Or will the Panthers defend their championship? Find out our analysis here at Last Word On Hockey next as we try to decide just who will prevail in the seven-game showdown with our Oilers vs Panthers series preview.
2025 Final Oilers vs Panthers Series Preview
Edmonton does have the benefit of home-ice advantage. Any little advantage this time of year could end up being huge. Moreover, in the regular season, the Florida Panthers beat the Oilers both times they met. Furthermore, in one of those games, Aleksander Barkov, he who just claimed his third Selke Trophy as league’s best defensive forward in the last five seasons, didn’t play for the Panthers. Also, the teams did play seven games against one another just under a year ago. Besides the 8-1 Oiler victory in Game 4 of that series, Florida won the series 4-2 and the score 17-15. Needless to say, the teams are pretty even.
One of the storylines affecting the Oilers in the postseason. Zach Hyman will miss the duration after the injury he sustained last series in a collision with Mason Marchment of the Dallas Stars. Therefore, the Oilers and head coach Kris Knoblauch have some lineup shuffling to consider. Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and Connor Brown are among those question marks. However, each of these three options have been effective when they’ve found themselves into the lineup.
The main difference maker for the Oilers to power them through the grind will be Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He is one of the best complete NHLers, a great villain to the Panthers gamers like Sam Bennett. Moreover, Nugent-Hopkins was on fire last round and comes into the final with 18 points through 16 games this postseason.
For the Florida Panthers to have been able to succeed, it is when Aleksander Barkov comes to play. Barkov is a tremendous, dominant player in the game today. He had 71 points in 67 games this regular season, and is one of those players in today’s game that just seems to be able to turn the tide in games, despite this being a league of the best players in the world, some superstars still find a way to succeed. Connor McDavid and his 143 career playoff points, including recently becoming the second-fastest to 100 assists in his playoff career (behind Wayne Gretzky), is a perfect antithesis to the current Barkov legacy.
Championships define greatness, defines who’s the best, and creates that imaginary, and yet paradoxically, very real line of who’s best than who. A win here for McDavid would go a long to define his greatness, not just in hockey, but in all sport.
Taking a look at the tenders. Stuart Skinner has been nearly unbeatable at home since he took back over from Calvin Pickard. And he hasn’t been much worse off on the road, either. Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky has been his regular Officer Bob, on the case this postseason. For a complete playoff comparison, Skinner has had a .904 SV% and 2.53 GAA through ten games played. Meanwhile, Bobrovsky sports a .912 SV% and 2.11 GAA in 17 games. Skinner has been playing much better recently as has been discussed, however. Since May 12th, he has led the NHL with a .944 SV%.
Overall, this series really comes down to the superstars, on these two teams. However, the stardom on display in this series is a great representation of the entire NHL. The Oilers feature the likes of Leon Draisaitl and Darnell, among the others we have mentioned previously. Not to mention Mattias Ekholm very conveniently timed his return to coincide with Hyman’s absenteeism. They’ll matchup against the likes of Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart, who are likewise some of the best in the game at their respective high-end role. Ekblad shutdown McDavid last year when the chips were down ultimately. Reinhart is arguably the best finisher in the league, right now.
Who Prevails and What are the Odds
Barkov leads the Panthers with 17 points and McDavid is at 26 to top the rest of his Oiler teammates this postseason. Edmonton is 30% on the power play, but 66% on the penalty kill. Florida, who is lower at 23.2% on the man advantage, ramps up to 87.9% to have a distinct Oilers when shorthanded. However, again you must consider the Oilers recent play. Allowing five goals in the final four games versus Dallas last series was a big statement from the Oil.
McDavid currently leads the Conn Smyth Trophy odds as playoff MVP odds and the Oilers are slightly favoured. If you took both bets independently, you’d be landing around $1,733 in winnings over the two-$1000 bets.
Our prediction? Oil in 6 to capture their franchise’s first Stanley Cup title since 1990.
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Main Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
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