After the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7, the participants for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs conference finals have been fully determined. Over the next two weeks, four teams will vie for the opportunity to compete for the NHL`s ultimate prize this season.
In the Eastern Conference, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, continue to solidify their position as the benchmark in playoff success. Having battled back from a 0-2 series deficit against the Maple Leafs, the Panthers are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated the Washington Capitals in five games in the second round.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference final will feature the Dallas Stars taking on the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are aiming for a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final after their loss to Florida in 2024. The Stars, conversely, are making their third consecutive appearance in the Western Conference Final, having outlasted the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets in the second round.
Before the Eastern and Western Conference Finals commence, here are our experts` picks for the winner of each series.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes
Series odds: Panthers -126, Hurricanes +105
Bengel: The reigning Stanley Cup champions demonstrated their formidable playoff capability. After dropping the first two games against Toronto, Florida showcased their offensive might on multiple occasions to overcome their Atlantic Division counterparts.
The Panthers` forward depth has proven to be their ultimate strength recently, and the trade deadline acquisition of Brad Marchand is yielding significant results when the stakes are 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-winning goal in Game 3 that swung the series momentum. Furthermore, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was an absolute wall over the final four games of that series, allowing only four goals in total. According to MoneyPuck, Bobrovsky boasts a .956 save percentage on unblocked shots during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The blend of offensive depth and stellar goaltending will be the decisive factor in this series. While the Hurricanes are capable of elite defense, the Panthers are simply going to be too much for them to handle throughout this matchup.
Pick: Panthers def. Hurricanes 4-1
Nivison: Following the Panthers` dominant Game 7 victory over the Maple Leafs, we are set for a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. The key question is whether the outcome will differ from that previous encounter, which resulted in a clean sweep by Florida. The Hurricanes navigated the first two rounds with relative ease, but the defending champions represent a vastly different challenge.
Carolina holds an 8-2 record in these playoffs with a plus-16 goal differential. Their ability to control play at five-on-five remains very strong, and they have received elite production from Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho. Add to that the fact that Frederik Andersen has been one of the top goalies this postseason, and Carolina appears better equipped to defeat Florida this time around. However, the challenge for the Canes lies in the Panthers` capability to execute everything Carolina does, but at an even higher standard.
Florida has been an even superior five-on-five team than Carolina in this postseason run, even against tougher opposition. The Panthers possess three lines capable of creating damage, their team defense is second to none, and Sergei Bobrovsky significantly elevated his performance in the last four games against Toronto. The Panthers are simply a notch above the Hurricanes in nearly every aspect. Carolina will manage to avoid being swept, but Florida will advance to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Pick: Panthers def. Hurricanes 4-2
Stars vs. Oilers
Series odds: Stars -110, Oilers -110
Bengel: The Western Conference Final presents arguably the most unpredictable scenario possible in the playoffs. Both the Oilers and Stars are battle-tested from their previous series, and both have been frequent participants in the Western Conference Final in recent years.
The Stars were pushed hard by the Jets but demonstrated resilience to ultimately secure the series victory. Much like the Panthers in the East, the Stars` offensive depth is extraordinary. It`s challenging to find a superior group of centers than they possess, with Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, and even Sam Steel contributing on the fourth line. Dallas also received a substantial boost in the second round with the return of defenseman Miro Heiskanen from injury, significantly strengthening their defense. This series will likely hinge on the performance of the star players. On one side, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead the Oilers, while Mikko Rantanen paces the Stars, leading the playoffs with 19 points. It will be intriguing to observe how often Stars coach Pete DeBoer opts to double-shift Rantanen, a tactic he employed frequently late in the series against the Jets.
The margin between these two teams is incredibly thin, but I lean towards the Stars due to their advantage in goal. Jake Oettinger was outstanding against Winnipeg, whereas I anticipate Calvin Pickard eventually regressing towards his typical performance level in what could be a very prolonged series.
Pick: Stars def. Oilers 4-3
Nivison: In what was perhaps the most dominant showing by any team in the playoffs so far, the Oilers dispatched the Golden Knights with relative ease in the second round. McDavid and Draisaitl were central with three points each, but perhaps more significantly, Edmonton received valuable contributions from their supporting cast. Corey Perry, Evander Kane, and Adam Henrique combined for seven goals, while Stuart Skinner made all the saves expected of him. This level of support is all McDavid and Draisaitl need for this Oilers team to operate at peak efficiency.
On the other side, the Stars are making their third consecutive appearance in the conference final and appear perfectly built for this challenge. Their roster depth, which was already impressive in previous seasons, is currently the best it has ever been. Mikko Rantanen, a physically imposing player well-suited for playoff hockey, leads the league in goals (9) and points (19). Mikael Granlund has made a substantial impact playing further down the lineup. If Dallas can ignite Jason Robertson`s offense following his return from injury, Edmonton may struggle to contain their attack.
Should Mattias Ekholm be able to rejoin the Oilers` blue line at some point in this series, it would be a major boost in slowing down Dallas, although his status for the initial games remains uncertain. Furthermore, it`s impossible to overlook the significant goaltending edge the Stars hold with Jake Oettinger facing Stuart Skinner. Given these factors, I favor the Stars` combination of depth and quality over the Oilers` more top-heavy roster construction.
Pick: Stars def. Oilers 4-2
