The Stanley Cup playoffs are widely regarded as one of the most physically and mentally demanding postseason tournaments in sports. As such, it`s a rare occurrence for a team to reach the Final in consecutive years. Even rarer is a rematch between the same two teams in back-to-back Cup Finals.
Yet, that`s precisely the scenario unfolding in 2025. Following a dramatic seven-game series in 2024, where the Florida Panthers initially took a commanding 3-0 lead only to see the Edmonton Oilers force a Game 7 before the Panthers ultimately secured their first franchise Cup, these two teams are set to face off once more, beginning Wednesday with Game 1.
How have these teams evolved since their 2024 encounter? How much confidence should each side place in its goaltender currently? What are the key X factors and burning questions facing each club as they enter this highly anticipated rematch?
Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton provide a detailed assessment of this heavyweight showdown.
How are these teams better than last season`s versions?
Oilers
Edmonton appears to possess a greater level of ruthlessness, likely a direct consequence of their experience in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against Florida. The Oilers were on the verge of completing one of the most improbable comebacks in NHL history, only to fall short in Game 7 after initially trailing the series 3-0.
This postseason, they have demonstrated an ability to both execute comebacks and prevent opponents from doing the same. They dropped the first two games of their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings but responded by winning four straight. In Game 1 of the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights, they conceded the first two goals before achieving a Stanley Cup playoff record with their fifth consecutive comeback victory. Even after the Golden Knights snatched a last-second win in Game 3, the Oilers responded by shutting them out in the final two games of that series.
This trend persisted in the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars. The Stars scored six unanswered goals to claim Game 1, yet the Oilers then limited Dallas to just five goals total across the subsequent four games to advance to the Final. — Clark
Panthers
Florida had commendable depth a season ago; this year, their depth is exceptional.
Nineteen different Panthers players have scored goals this postseason, compared to fifteen in the 2024 playoffs. Florida is also averaging more goals per game (3.88) and allowing fewer (2.29) than they did previously. Furthermore, their power play has been significantly more effective (23.2% versus 18.5%), and their penalty kill (87.9%) leads all teams in the playoffs.
The collective commitment to defense among the Panthers has been particularly striking. They have allowed fewer shots on goal this year and have successfully neutralized some of the league`s most potent offensive teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who led the NHL in regular-season scoring, managed only 12 goals over five games in their first-round series against Florida. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky`s statistics are also stronger this season compared to last (more on him shortly).
General Manager Bill Zito made crucial roster additions, including Brad Marchand, who has been an outstanding asset on the third line, and Seth Jones, a productive presence on the defense. Florida has successfully blended physicality and skill, making them a formidable challenge for every opponent faced so far. — Shilton
How are these teams worse than last season`s versions?
Oilers
The Oilers possessed a penalty kill unit last season that was among the best in NHL history; this year, it has faced struggles at times. A key factor in their run to the Cup Final last season was a penalty kill with a remarkable 94.3% success rate. While they have returned to the Final, their short-handed efficiency this postseason is just 66%, ranking as the third-lowest rate among all playoff teams.
The primary reason for this difference is personnel changes. Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, and Ryan McLeod were vital players and among the top eight in short-handed time on ice for the Oilers last postseason. All three played elsewhere this season.
Additionally, the situation surrounding Mattias Ekholm is relevant. He led the Oilers with 68:49 in short-handed ice time last postseason, more than 12 minutes ahead of second-place Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The good news for Edmonton is that Ekholm rejoined the team for Game 5 against the Stars after missing the entire playoffs up to that point while recovering from an undisclosed injury. — Clark
Panthers
Frankly, finding significant flaws in the Panthers is difficult. However, there have been instances where Florida appeared less than championship-caliber.
Early games in their second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs exposed Florida`s vulnerabilities defending against the rush when facing elite talent. This issue reappeared in Games 4 and 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes, where Florida seemed slower-footed and more prone to turnovers against faster forwards.
This wasn`t an area where the Panthers struggled as much last season. Florida is averaging more giveaways per 60 minutes this postseason (12.23) compared to last year (9.67), and Edmonton possesses the speed and skill to force such errors. Managing and protecting the puck will be critically important for the Panthers. — Shilton
Goaltender Confidence Ratings
Oilers: 8.5/10
May 10th marked a turning point for the Oilers and Stuart Skinner. That`s the day Coach Kris Knoblauch reinstated Skinner for Game 3 against the Golden Knights.
Knoblauch had previously benched Skinner after he allowed 12 goals in the first two games of the series against the Kings, leading to Calvin Pickard taking over. However, Pickard sustained an injury in Game 2 against the Golden Knights, necessitating Skinner`s return for Game 3.
Since his return, Skinner has become one of the Oilers` most vital players. He shut out the Golden Knights in the final two games and also recorded a shutout against the Stars in the conference finals.
Achieving two shutouts addressed some doubts. There were still concerns about whether the Oilers could win if Skinner wasn`t perfect and didn`t post a shutout. He quieted those concerns by achieving a .920 save percentage over the final three games of the conference finals, effectively closing the door on Dallas. — Clark
Panthers: 9/10
Sergei Bobrovsky has elevated his performance in every series Florida has played this postseason, and his most recent statistics are truly remarkable.
Through the first five games against Tampa Bay in the first round and the initial three games against Toronto in the second, Bobrovsky had a 5-3 record with an .875 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average – relatively standard numbers. Something clicked in the second round, and “Playoff Bob” became exceptional; in Games 4-7 against the Maple Leafs and throughout the entire Eastern Conference finals, Bobrovsky compiled a 7-2 record with a .944 SV% and a 1.34 goals-against average. Notably, he recorded two shutouts during this period.
Bobrovsky`s least impressive performance in the past two weeks was Game 5 against Carolina, where he allowed three goals on 20 shots – the most he`s given up since Game 3 against Toronto. Bobrovsky has repeatedly demonstrated his resilience and skill. He has experienced both success and failure during a Cup Final run (recall being pulled in Game 4 last year, an 8-1 loss for the Panthers). Bobrovsky is an experienced goaltender performing at his peak and will aim to outperform Skinner once again in this year`s goaltending showdown. — Shilton
X factors for the Cup Final
Oilers
How will they manage without Zach Hyman for an entire series? Hyman led the Oilers with 16 goals last postseason. He has contributed differently this season, serving as their most physical player. Hyman led the NHL this postseason with 111 hits, adding another layer to an already deep team.
The injury he suffered in Game 4 against Dallas means he will miss the remainder of the playoffs. This loss raises concerns such as: Who will provide that physical presence? Who steps up in the top six forwards? Who takes his place on the power play?
In their first game without Hyman, the Oilers once again relied on their depth to compensate for his absence. Five forwards finished with more than five hits, while two of them – Evander Kane and Kasperi Kapanen – scored in the series-clinching Game 5. However, Hyman was not the only Oilers skater with a physical edge. Entering Game 1 of the Final, five Oilers players rank among the top 25 in hits this postseason. — Clark
Panthers
How will Florida`s star players perform against Edmonton`s? As mentioned, the Panthers have 19 different goal scorers this postseason, and so do the Oilers. Both teams boast significant depth.
However, Edmonton`s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl hold the top two spots in playoff scoring (with 26 and 25 points, respectively). The Panthers` leading point producers are Aleksander Barkov (17 points) and Sam Bennett (16 points). Bennett also leads Florida in goals with 10, being the only Panther to reach double digits.
Florida needs consistent offensive production from Barkov, Bennett, Sam Reinhart (four goals and 13 points), Carter Verhaeghe (six goals and 14 points), and Matthew Tkachuk (five goals and 16 points) right from the start of this series. The Oilers are opportunistic, explosive, and equally dangerous at five-on-five as on the power play. How Florida counters them – not only by containing Edmonton`s stars but also by consistently activating its own offense – could be the deciding factor in this matchup. — Shilton
Big questions before Game 1
Can a team defined by its adjustments continue to make the right ones?
The Oilers have demonstrated a remarkable ability to make significant adjustments throughout the playoffs. Examples include the changes that helped them overcome an 0-2 series deficit against the Kings, or the adjustments made to silence the Golden Knights` offense (a top-five scoring team in the regular season) in the final two games of that series. Consider also their transition from allowing six goals to the Stars in Game 1 of the conference finals to conceding only five goals combined over the subsequent four games.
They managed to find defensive stability without Mattias Ekholm and navigated the goaltender situation, moving from Skinner to Pickard and back to Skinner, to return to the Cup Final – where they now face the absence of Zach Hyman.
Will these continuous adjustments be sufficient to bridge the gap between a repeat of last season`s defeat and winning it all for the first time since 1990? — Clark
How will penalties influence this series?
Florida is masters at playing right on the edge of the rules without crossing it too often. However, they also spend a considerable amount of time in the penalty box. Can the Panthers find the optimal balance here, knowing that the Oilers possess a dominant power play that just scored six goals with the man advantage – at least one in every game – in the Western Conference finals against Dallas?
Florida is the most penalized team in the playoff field (by a significant margin), which is somewhat expected for a physically oriented team that also leads the postseason in hits per game (47.05). Conversely, Florida has also drawn more penalties than any other team.
This creates an intriguing dynamic with two potential outcomes for the Panthers. Will they successfully frustrate the Oilers while staying on the officials` good side? Or will Edmonton`s offensive dynamism force the Panthers into taking too many penalties?
Special teams suddenly become a critical factor. Edmonton holds the advantage on the power play, while Florida excels on the penalty kill. The back-and-forth nature and the potential for strategic gamesmanship around penalties will be fascinating to observe. — Shilton
Gareth Tenby