The 2025 Stanley Cup Final kicks off in Edmonton on Wednesday as the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will battle it out in a rematch of last year's final that went seven games.
Florida is looking to repeat as champions after winning Game 7 last year, 2-1. The Panthers' path to the final started with a 4-1 series victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was a physical series, and even though Tampa Bay played Florida tight, the Panthers were the deeper and more physical team.
In the second round, the Toronto Maple Leafs took an early 2-0 series lead. But the Panthers rebounded and, despite the Maple Leafs pushing the series to seven games, Florida won Game 7 in Toronto handily, 6–1.
Meeting the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final would be the Carolina Hurricanes. Unlike the previous series, this one was not close as Florida crushed Carolina, 4-1, to win the Eastern Conference and head back to the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers won each game by at least two goals, and the Hurricanes were only able to steal Game 4, 3-0.
Waiting for Florida in the final is Edmonton once again. The Oilers are back, and they have looked dominant in the playoffs so far. Their first-round matchup was against the Los Angeles Kings. Los Angeles took the first two games, but Edmonton rallied back by winning four straight to win the series, 4-2.
Edmonton moved on to face off with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers controlled the series and although the Golden Knights stole Game 3 by taking the lead with 0.4 seconds left, Edmonton won 4-1 to move on to the Western Conference Final.
Taking on the Dallas Stars for the opportunity to go back to the Stanley Cup Final, Game 1 went Dallas' way as the Stars emerged with a 6-3 win. Similar to their series against Los Angeles, Edmonton won four straight games in blowout fashion to win the West, 4-1.
Connor McDavid can do what both Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby did as they each won their first Stanley Cup in their second appearance in a rematch. Gretzky's Oilers crushed the New York Islanders in 1984, 4-1, and Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins won the title in a thriller over the Detroit Red Wings in 2009, 4-3.
For the first time since 2009, both finalists from the last season returned to the Stanley Cup Final the next season. This is the Panthers' third consecutive appearance in the final as they look to win back-to-back titles. But McDavid and the Oilers aim to spoil that goal and avenge last year's loss to lift the Stanley Cup.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.