The stage is set for the 2025 NHL Western Conference Final, featuring a compelling matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers. These two formidable teams will battle it out for the honor of representing the Western Conference in the highly anticipated Stanley Cup Final.
To get you ready for this exciting series, here`s a breakdown of the key information.
Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers
Paths to the Conference Final:
- Stars: Advanced by defeating the Colorado Avalanche in seven games and the Winnipeg Jets in six games.
- Oilers: Reached this round after eliminating the Los Angeles Kings in six games and the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
Series Schedule:
- Game 1: May 21 (Oilers at Stars)
- Game 2: May 23 (Oilers at Stars)
- Game 3: May 25 (Stars at Oilers)
- Game 4: May 27 (Stars at Oilers)
- Game 5: May 29 (Oilers at Stars)
- Game 6: May 31 (Stars at Oilers)
- Game 7: June 2 (Oilers at Stars)
Betting Odds:
- Series Winner Odds: Oilers -120, Stars +100
- Stanley Cup Winner Odds: Oilers +250, Stars +350
Leading Playoff Scorers:
- Stars: Mikko Rantanen (9 goals, 10 assists)
- Oilers: Connor McDavid (3 goals, 14 assists)
Matchup Notes
Edmonton Oilers:
- Edmonton is the first Canadian franchise to reach consecutive conference finals since the Toronto Maple Leafs accomplished the feat in 1993 and 1994.
- This marks the Oilers` third appearance in the final four in the last four postseasons, dating back to 2022.
- They are making consecutive conference finals appearances for the first time in 33 years.
- This is the 12th time in franchise history that the Oilers have advanced to the conference finals, tying the Chicago Blackhawks for the most appearances since Edmonton`s inaugural season in 1979-80.
- Connor McDavid`s 17 career points in conference final games place him seventh in franchise history.
- McDavid and Zach Hyman are tied for sixth in franchise history with six career goals scored in the conference finals.
- Coach Kris Knoblauch joins a select group of only seven coaches in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to reach the final four in each of their first two seasons as head coach.
Dallas Stars:
- The Stars are making their third consecutive appearance in the conference finals, a rare achievement in the salary cap era (since the 2005-06 season).
- Stars coach Peter DeBoer is coaching in his eighth conference final (or Stanley Cup semifinal), ranking him third among coaches in the expansion era (since 1967-68).
- DeBoer is just the fourth coach in the expansion era to guide his team to the conference final in each of his first three seasons with the club.
- During the regular season, the Stars won two of the three games played against the Oilers, outscoring them 12-9 overall. Jason Robertson (4 goals, 2 assists) and Roope Hintz (1 goal, 5 assists) were the leading point producers for the Stars in those games.
- Mikko Rantanen enters this series as the leading scorer across all playoff teams with nine goals and 19 points through 13 games. His nine goals represent a new career high for a single postseason, and he is on pace to surpass his previous playoff high of 25 points from the 2022 Stanley Cup run.
Gareth Tenby