The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is set, pitting the Edmonton Oilers against the Florida Panthers for the second consecutive year. This rematch has all the makings of a classic series, but can the Oilers finally break their drought and win the coveted trophy?
Edmonton will be seeking its ninth Stanley Cup title, joining the Philadelphia Flyers as the non-Original-Six franchise with the most appearances in the final. The team’s Connor McDavid is looking to lead his squad to victory, having averaged 1.73 points per game against the Panthers in his career.
The Oilers have made a strong run through the playoffs, defeating the Los Angeles Kings in six games and the Dallas Stars in five. Meanwhile, the Panthers are riding a wave of momentum, having defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven.
Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky is a key player for his team, boasting a 1.57 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in their last 10 playoff games. The Panthers’ Carter Verhaeghe has also been on fire, scoring his third career series-clinching goal in the Eastern Conference finals.
For the Oilers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is aiming to make history by becoming the second player in NHL history to win their first Stanley Cup with a franchise after playing for 14-plus seasons. The Panthers, meanwhile, are looking to become the 10th franchise in NHL history to repeat as champions and eighth during the expansion era.
The stage is set for an intense and closely contested series between these two talented teams. Will the Oilers finally claim their ninth Stanley Cup title, or will the Panthers continue their dominance? Only time will tell.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/45394655/nhl-2025-playoffs-stanley-cup-final-panthers-oilers-rematch-stats-matchups-preview