The stage is set for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. For the second year in a row, the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will face off for hockey`s ultimate prize.
Sequels don`t always live up to the original. Will this rematch be a classic like Rocky II or a disappointment like The Godfather III? A major question is whether the Oilers can claim victory this year and end Canada`s long Stanley Cup drought, which dates back to 1993.
Here`s an early look at the series, covering the schedule, betting odds, and key notes for each team and the overall matchup.
Stanley Cup Final Matchup
Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers
Paths to the Final:
Oilers: Defeated Kings in six games, Golden Knights in five games, Stars in five games
Panthers: Defeated Lightning in five games, Maple Leafs in seven games, Hurricanes in five games
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Panthers at Oilers, June 4, 8 p.m. ET
Game 2: Panthers at Oilers, June 6, 8 p.m. ET
Game 3: Oilers at Panthers, June 9, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: Oilers at Panthers, June 12, 8 p.m. ET
Game 5: Panthers at Oilers, June 14, 8 p.m. ET
Game 6: Oilers at Panthers, June 17, 8 p.m. ET
Game 7: Panthers at Oilers, June 20, 8 p.m. ET
Betting Insights:
Cup Winner Odds:
Oilers: -115
Panthers: -105
Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP) Odds:
Connor McDavid (EDM): -110
Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA): +250
Aleksander Barkov (FLA): +425
Leon Draisaitl (EDM): +800
Matthew Tkachuk (FLA): +2500
Sam Bennett (FLA): +3000
Matchup Notes:
This series marks the 12th Stanley Cup Final rematch in NHL history and the fifth in the expansion era (since 1967-68). It`s the first since the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and 2009. The previous two rematches saw stars like Sidney Crosby (2009) and Wayne Gretzky (1984) win their first Cup, potentially a good omen for Connor McDavid.
Superstitions regarding conference trophies vary. Last year, the Panthers did not touch the Prince of Wales Trophy and went on to win the Cup, contrasting with 1996 and 2023 when they touched it and lost in the Final. The Oilers chose to touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl this year. They did not touch it last year or in 2006, losing the Final in Game 7 on both occasions.
In the 2024 Final, the Panthers initially took a commanding 3-0 series lead, outscoring the Oilers 11-4. Edmonton then rallied, winning the next three games with a combined score of 18-5. Game 7 was extremely close, with Florida winning 2-1, decided by Sam Reinhart`s goal at 15:11 of the second period.
During the 2024-25 regular season, Florida won both contests against Edmonton: 6-5 at home on December 16 and 4-3 on the road on February 27.
This Final features the top four picks from the 2014 NHL draft: Aaron Ekblad (No. 1, FLA), Sam Reinhart (No. 2, originally BUF), Leon Draisaitl (No. 3, EDM), and Sam Bennett (No. 4, originally CGY).
Team Notes:
Oilers
This is the Edmonton Oilers` ninth appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, surpassing the Philadelphia Flyers for the most among non-Original Six franchises and ranking seventh overall.
Edmonton is the eighth team in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to reach the Final after losing their first two games of their opening playoff series. Notably, all seven previous teams accomplished this feat and went on to win the Stanley Cup, including the 2018 Capitals, 2014 Kings, and 1993 Canadiens. The 2014 Kings are the only team in NHL history to start a playoff run 0-3 and still win the Cup.
Connor McDavid holds the highest points-per-game average against the Panthers in franchise history (minimum 20 games played), including playoffs, at 1.73. Elite players like Joe Sakic (1.44), Peter Forsberg (1.43), and Mario Lemieux (1.32) rank behind him.
After losing his initial three starts this postseason, goaltender Stuart Skinner has bounced back, going 6-1 with a 1.41 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage, and three shutouts in his last seven starts.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers` longest-tenured current player, could become just the second player in NHL history to play his first 14 or more seasons with one franchise before winning his first Stanley Cup with them. Steve Yzerman achieved this with Detroit in 1997 (his 14th season).
Panthers
The Florida Panthers are the ninth franchise in NHL history, and the second in the last 40 years (following the 2020-22 Lightning), to make three consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
Florida has the opportunity to become the 10th franchise in NHL history and eighth during the expansion era to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Entering Game 1 in Edmonton, the Panthers have won their last five road playoff games, outscoring opponents significantly (27-7) and boasting a strong power play (42.9% on 6-for-14).
Over their last 10 postseason games, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has posted impressive numbers with a 1.57 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage, and two shutouts. He enters the 2025 Final with 57 career playoff wins, second among active goalies only to Andrei Vasilevskiy (67).
Carter Verhaeghe scored his third career series-clinching goal in the Eastern Conference Final. Only Max Pacioretty and Artturi Lehkonen (four each) have more among active players. Verhaeghe`s 12 career playoff game-winning goals are double that of the next-closest player in Panthers history (Matthew Tkachuk, six).
Sam Bennett`s goal in Game 5 against Carolina made him the first player to reach the 10-goal mark in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. He is the second-fastest player in franchise history to hit this benchmark in a single postseason (behind Dave Lowry in 1996). Bennett`s 10 goals are tied for the third-most in a single Panthers postseason, trailing only Carter Verhaeghe (2024) and Matthew Tkachuk (2023), who each had 11.
Duncan Priestley 
Gareth Tenby