With the Florida Panthers securing a victory in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the stage is now set for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs conference finals. Over the next couple of weeks, four formidable teams will compete fiercely for the chance to vie for the National Hockey League`s ultimate trophy this postseason.
In the Eastern Conference, the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers continue to demonstrate their strength and capability in the playoffs. After overcoming a challenging 0-2 series deficit against the Maple Leafs, Florida is set to clash with the Carolina Hurricanes, who advanced by eliminating the Washington Capitals in five games during the second round.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference Final features a matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are aiming to return to the Stanley Cup Final after their appearance in 2024, where they lost to Florida. Conversely, the Stars are making their third consecutive trip to the Western Conference Final, having prevailed over the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets in their second-round series.
As the Eastern and Western Conference Finals get underway, here are our expert selections for the winners of each series.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes
Analysis by Bengel: The reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers have proven themselves to be a dominant force in the postseason once again. Despite dropping the first two games against Toronto, Florida displayed their offensive prowess repeatedly to outlast their Atlantic Division rivals.
Florida`s forward depth has been a key strength in recent years, but the addition of Brad Marchand at the trade deadline is significantly paying off when the pressure is highest. Marchand leads the team with 12 points this postseason and contributed three goals and five assists against the Maple Leafs, including an overtime game-winner in Game 3 that helped shift the momentum of the series. Furthermore, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was exceptional in the final four games of that series, allowing only four goals in total. According to MoneyPuck statistics, Bobrovsky boasts a .956 save percentage on unblocked shots during these Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The combination of offensive depth and outstanding goaltending will be the deciding factor in this series. While the Hurricanes are known for their elite defensive play, the Panthers` offensive capability is expected to be too much for them to handle throughout the series.
Pick — Panthers def. Hurricanes 4-1
Analysis by Nivison: Following the Panthers` decisive Game 7 win over the Maple Leafs, we have a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. The key question is whether the outcome will differ from that prior matchup, which saw Florida sweep the series. The Hurricanes have navigated the first two rounds with relative ease, but facing the reigning champions presents a much tougher challenge.
Carolina holds an 8-2 record in these playoffs with a plus-16 goal differential. Their ability to dictate play at five-on-five remains strong, and they have received top-tier production from players like Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho. With Frederik Andersen performing as one of the top goaltenders this postseason, Carolina appears better equipped to defeat Florida this time. However, the difficulty for the Hurricanes lies in the fact that the Panthers are capable of performing all these aspects at an even higher level.
Florida has been an even more effective five-on-five team than Carolina in these playoffs, despite facing tougher opponents. The Panthers possess three lines capable of generating offense, their team defense is among the league`s best, and Sergei Bobrovsky significantly elevated his performance in the latter part of the series against Toronto. In nearly every aspect, the Panthers hold a slight edge over the Hurricanes. Carolina will likely avoid being swept, but Florida is expected to advance to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Pick — Panthers def. Hurricanes 4-2
Stars vs. Oilers
Analysis by Bengel: The Western Conference Final is about as evenly matched as a playoff series can be. Both the Oilers and Stars emerged from tough battles in the previous round and have recent experience playing in the conference final.
The Stars faced a significant challenge against the Jets but rose to the occasion to win the series. Similar to the Panthers in the East, the Stars possess incredible offensive depth. It`s difficult to find a stronger group of centers than they have with Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, and even Sam Steel contributing on the fourth line. Dallas also received a major boost in the second round with the return of defenseman Miro Heiskanen from injury, solidifying their defense. This series is likely to be heavily influenced by the performance of star players. On one side are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the Oilers, while Mikko Rantanen leads the Stars and the league in postseason points with 19. It will be interesting to observe how frequently Stars coach Pete DeBoer utilizes Rantanen in a double-shifting role, as he often did against the Jets in the previous round.
The difference between these two teams is minimal, but I favor the Stars primarily due to their advantage in goaltending. Jake Oettinger was outstanding against Winnipeg, whereas I anticipate Calvin Pickard`s elevated performance may not be sustainable throughout what could be a lengthy series.
Pick — Stars def. Oilers 4-3
Analysis by Nivison: In arguably the most dominant showing by any team so far in the playoffs, the Oilers handled the Golden Knights with relative ease in the second round. McDavid and Draisaitl led the way with three points each, but significantly, Edmonton also received contributions from their supporting players. Corey Perry, Evander Kane, and Adam Henrique combined for seven goals, while Stuart Skinner made the saves expected of him. This level of support is all McDavid and Draisaitl need for the Oilers to operate at peak performance.
On the other side, the Stars are in this position for the third consecutive year and are seemingly built for playoff success. Their depth, which was already strong in previous seasons, is currently the best it`s ever been. Mikko Rantanen, a physical presence well-suited for the playoffs, leads the league in both goals (9) and points (19). Mikael Granlund has also made a substantial impact further down the lineup. If Dallas can get Jason Robertson back up to speed after his injury return, Edmonton might struggle to contain their offense.
Should Mattias Ekholm return to the Oilers` blue line at some point in the series, it would greatly help in slowing down Dallas, but his status for Games 1 and 2 remains uncertain. Beyond that, it`s impossible not to highlight the significant goaltending advantage the Stars possess with Jake Oettinger facing Stuart Skinner. Given this factor, I am picking the Stars, banking on their combination of forward depth and quality over the Oilers` more top-heavy roster construction.
Pick — Stars def. Oilers 4-2
