2025 Stanley Cup Final – Panthers vs. Oilers Showdown

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final has delivered everything hockey fans could hope for: high-scoring shootouts, overtime thrillers, physical intensity, and superstar heroics. It’s a rematch of last year’s championship series, when the Florida Panthers blew a 3-0 series lead only for the Edmonton Oilers to storm back and force Game 7, which Florida ultimately won on home ice. This time around, both teams have traded blows from the start. The series is tied 2-2 after four games – three of which have needed overtime to decide a winner – setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Below, we break down how each team is performing, the key strategies in play, and the standout players driving the action, all in a tone that blends serious analysis with a fan’s excitement.

Florida Panthers: Defending Champions on a Rampage

The Florida Panthers entered the Finals as the defending Stanley Cup champions, and they’ve been playing like a team determined to retain the crown. Florida’s offense has been relentless throughout the playoffs. In fact, the Panthers have scored five or more goals in a game 11 times this postseason – an almost unreal scoring pace. That trend continued in the Finals, where Florida notched 5 goals in a double-overtime Game 2 win and exploded for 6 goals in Game 3. This team can strike in waves, rolling out deep lines of attackers that keep the pressure on. Their forecheck has been relentless, consistently winning battles along the boards and outworking Edmonton at even strength. In Game 3, Florida “outclassed the Oilers in every aspect… beating them physically and mentally for 60 minutes” as they cruised to a 6-1 victory.

One big advantage for Florida has been their scoring depth. They confidently roll three or four lines that can contribute on any night. In the Game 3 rout, six different Panthers scored goals and 12 different players registered at least one point. It’s a luxury when players like Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand are on your third line – that’s the kind of depth most teams can only dream of. The Panthers added veteran talent before the trade deadline, bringing in star defenseman Seth Jones and former Bruins standout Brad Marchand to bolster an already deep roster. Those moves have paid off in spades. Marchand, in particular, has been crucial – he scored two breakaway goals in Game 2 (including the double-overtime game-winner) to even the series, and he opened the scoring just 56 seconds into Game 3 to set the tone. Florida’s forward group also features young star Matthew Tkachuk, who brings both skill and sandpaper. Tkachuk has contributed key goals (including two in the first period of Game 4 to help Florida jump out to a 3-0 lead) and excels at getting under opponents’ skin. Sam Bennett has been a revelation as well – he leads all players in playoff goals, with 14 tallies so far. Bennett netted two goals in Game 1 of the Final and added a highlight-reel breakaway goal in Game 3 after delivering a bone-rattling hit that knocked an Oilers player off the puck. He’s been an absolute force, combining physicality with a nose for the net.

Defensively, the Panthers have shown they can lock things down when needed. Team defense was stifling in Game 3 – Florida allowed only two high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 and under 1 expected goal against in that game. In fact, Edmonton’s superstar duo was held without a single point or even a shot on goal in that contest, a testament to Florida’s structured defensive play. Top blueliners Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones have logged huge minutes, using their size and skating to keep Edmonton’s attackers to the outside. The Panthers also know how to push the physical pace – they aren’t afraid to throw hits and play rough, especially if it means disrupting the Oilers’ flow. They welcome a scrappy, hard-hitting game. As one analysis put it, Florida “relishes digging in underneath their opponents’ skin” and actually grows stronger when games get chippy. We saw this in Game 3 when Edmonton lost its cool: the Panthers happily capitalized while the Oilers paraded to the penalty box for 85 minutes worth of infractions.

In net, Sergei Bobrovsky continues to provide a steady last line of defense. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner had some rocky moments early in the series, but he’s come up big under pressure. In Game 2, Bobrovsky surrendered three quick goals in the first period to a buzzing Oilers offense that looked poised to take a 2-0 series lead, but he shook off the rough start. After those early goals, “the veteran netminder stopped 31 of the final 32 shots” he faced that night, allowing Florida to claw back and ultimately win in overtime. He ended Game 2 with 41 saves on 45 shots, outdueling Edmonton’s goalie in the marathon. In Game 3, Bobrovsky delivered a “sensational performance” to hold Edmonton to just one goal. When he’s on his game, Bob’s ability to track pucks through traffic and make clutch saves gives the Panthers a huge confidence boost. Backstopping a team that scores in bunches, Bobrovsky doesn’t need to be perfect – he just needs to come up with the timely stops, something he did to secure the Cup last year and is doing again in this Final.

All told, the Panthers have looked every bit the reigning champions. Their strategy of aggressive forechecking, rolling four lines, and playing physical, disciplined hockey (especially on home ice) has largely succeeded in containing Edmonton’s firepower. When Florida sticks to its game plan and maintains composure, they have managed to dictate play. After Game 3, they had the Oilers searching for answers. However, this series is far from one-sided – the Panthers have also shown some vulnerability when Edmonton’s stars break loose, as we’ll examine next.

Edmonton Oilers: Star Power and Resilience

On the other side, the Edmonton Oilers have brought their own blend of skill and determination to this Final. Edmonton’s identity revolves around its superstar duo – Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl – arguably the two best hockey players on the planet. These two have consistently delivered highlight-reel moments and are the main reason the Oilers find themselves in back-to-back Cup Finals. Through the first four games, McDavid and Draisaitl have lived up to the hype. McDavid, the team captain and offensive wizard, has been a playmaking machine. He racked up five assists in the first two games of the Final, including a dazzling three-assist effort in Game 2. In one sequence that had fans gawking, McDavid stickhandled through Panthers stars Aleksander Barkov (a Selke-winning defender) and Aaron Ekblad, then set up Draisaitl for a beautiful one-timer goal. That bit of McDavid magic gave Edmonton a 3-2 lead in Game 2 and showcased why he’s considered the most skilled player in the world. Draisaitl, for his part, has been a goal-scoring force. He tallied three goals in the first two games of the series and has scored in clutch situations repeatedly. In Game 1, Draisaitl buried the overtime winner with 31 seconds left, finishing off a feed from McDavid. That goal was Draisaitl’s third OT goal of these playoffs, tying an NHL record – and he wasn’t done. In Game 4, Draisaitl struck yet again in overtime, scoring his fourth OT game-winner of the 2025 playoffs. No player had ever pulled off four OT goals in one postseason before, and Draisaitl’s historic heroics have been absolutely vital for Edmonton. When the game is on the line, he’s been the Oilers’ go-to clutch shooter.

Beyond the dynamic duo, the Oilers have needed contributions from their supporting cast – and they’ve gotten some, albeit inconsistently. Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a veteran Oiler, sparked Edmonton’s comeback in Game 4 with a goal early in the second period to break the ice after the team fell behind 3-0. Rugged winger Evander Kane has been trying to make an impact physically, though at times he’s crossed the line – for example, he earned a game misconduct in Game 3 after a reckless high-stick on Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe. Depth scorers like Viktor Arvidsson and Kasperi Kapanen have had their moments: Arvidsson scored a much-needed goal in Game 1 to help the Oilers rally, and Kapanen has chipped in several assists, including two in Game 1 and a critical setup in Game 4. Even unheralded players are stepping up – defenseman Jake Walman (a mid-season pickup) blasted home the go-ahead goal in the third period of Game 4 after jumping into the play, and young forward Vasily Podkolzin scored the tying goal in that same game with a nifty backhand in the slot. Edmonton’s roster also features battle-tested veterans like Corey Perry, who won a Cup back in 2007 and has reached the Finals multiple times since. Perry’s experience showed in Game 2 when he crashed the net and forced in a rebound with just 18 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime. That clutch late goal was actually the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history, and it exemplified the never-say-die attitude of these Oilers.

Strategically, Edmonton leans on what got them here: a high-powered offense led by stars, quick transitions, and a lethal power play. When the Oilers dictate the pace, they can put even the stout Panthers on their heels. We saw this in the opening period of Game 2, when Edmonton’s aggressive attack pumped three goals past Bobrovsky in roughly 20 minutes. Their speed and skill can be overwhelming in spurts, especially when McDavid and Draisaitl share the ice. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t afraid to load up his two superstars on the same line when chasing a goal late in games, which creates a nightmare matchup for any opponent. However, Edmonton has also shown a tendency to start slow or lapse for stretches. They have frequently fallen behind early – in fact, the Oilers gave up the first goal in three of the first four Final games. In Game 3, those slow starts were disastrous, as Edmonton took a string of careless penalties and dug themselves a multi-goal hole they couldn’t escape. Maintaining discipline has been a challenge; the Oilers have been baited into retaliatory penalties by Florida’s pesky play. Those mental lapses culminated in the penalty-filled Game 3 debacle where Edmonton accumulated 85 penalty minutes, one of the highest totals in Cup Final history. When the Oilers keep their composure and stick to hockey, they’re dangerous – but when they lose focus, this Panthers team makes them pay.

One area of concern for Edmonton has been goaltending. Coming into the series, starter Stuart Skinner was serviceable, but he’s had an up-and-down Final. Skinner played well in moments – for example, after a shaky start in Game 1 (allowing three goals), he settled in and stopped 24 straight shots to help Edmonton rally. He also made several breakaway saves in Game 2’s overtime before ultimately getting beat. But Skinner struggled mightily in Game 3, giving up soft goals and even committing an unforced delay-of-game penalty by flinging the puck over the glass. By early Game 4, after Skinner allowed three goals in the first period, Coach Knoblauch had seen enough – he made a gutsy call to swap in backup goalie Calvin Pickard in hopes of shifting momentum. Pickard, a journeyman netminder on his sixth NHL team, has been nothing short of a revelation in relief. He stopped 22 of 23 shots in Game 4 after coming off the bench, backstopping the Oilers’ comeback. In fact, Pickard now boasts a 7-0 record in this year’s playoffs (mostly in relief appearances). His calm presence seemed to stabilize Edmonton in Game 4. It will be interesting to see if Edmonton sticks with Pickard as the starter going forward or returns to Skinner – a classic hot-hand vs. incumbent debate. The Oilers absolutely need strong goaltending to survive this series, because asking McDavid and Draisaitl to win shootouts every night is a risky proposition against a team as deep as Florida.

Despite some hiccups, Edmonton’s resilience has been on full display. This is a team that simply will not quit. They’ve erased multi-goal deficits twice in this Final already. In Game 1, the Oilers fell behind 3-1 by early in the second period, only to storm back and eventually win in overtime. And the crown jewel was Game 4: facing a 3-0 deficit on the road after one period (a situation that had always resulted in a loss in Stanley Cup Final history until now), the Oilers staged a furious comeback. Four different Oilers scored to turn 0-3 into a 4-3 lead, marking the first time since 1919 that a team overcame a three-goal deficit to win a Final game on the road. Even after Florida tied it with seconds left, Edmonton remained undeterred. In overtime, it was once again Leon Draisaitl playing the hero, firing the puck that deflected in for the win. That resilience – the belief that they’re never out of a game – defines the Oilers in 2025. It’s the same quality that helped them erase a 0-3 series hole in last year’s Final (nearly completing an epic comeback), and it’s serving them well again. The series is now essentially a best-of-three, and Edmonton’s confidence is growing that this time, they can finish the job.

Standout Players and Key Contributions

Both teams have had players step up in big ways during this knotted Final. Here’s a look at some of the standout performers and their contributions so far:

Of course, many other players have had an impact – Corey Perry (EDM) provided veteran clutch scoring with that last-second tying goal in Game 2, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) and Darnell Nurse (EDM) each scored critical goals during the Game 4 comeback, and Sam Reinhart (FLA) has a knack for timely plays, including the game-tying goal with 19.5 seconds left in Game 4 to force overtime. In a series this close, every contribution matters, and both teams have gotten key plays from stars and role-players alike.

Final Prediction: Who Lifts the Cup?

As the series sits tied, it’s truly anyone’s guess who will ultimately hoist the Stanley Cup. Both the Panthers and Oilers have made compelling cases through their play. Statistically, Florida might have a slight edge – they have a deeper lineup (evidenced by the spread of scoring across their roster) and they’ve generally controlled play at even strength when they stay disciplined. The Panthers’ ability to roll four lines and wear down opponents has been apparent; they’ve outscored Edmonton significantly in second periods and shown they can shut down the Oilers’ offense for long stretches. Florida also has the experience of being reigning champs and know how to finish a series when they have a lead. If they can keep drawing Edmonton into “penalty chaos” and maintain their composure, the Panthers could definitely ride their depth and home-ice advantage (Game 6 in Sunrise) to a repeat championship.

On the other hand, momentum and intangible factors might be tilting toward Edmonton. The Oilers have the boost of that incredible Game 4 comeback, which could be a galvanizing turning point. Coming back from 0-3 on the road to win is the kind of moment that can make a team believe it’s their destined year. Edmonton also now regains home-ice for two of the potential final three games. And let’s not forget, the Oilers have Connor McDavid. It’s hard to bet against the best player in the world when the prize is on the line – especially since he’s displaying peak form in this series, orchestrating offense every time he touches the puck. His partner-in-crime Draisaitl is equally motivated, chasing not just the Cup but a Conn Smythe Trophy with his postseason performance. The hunger in Edmonton is enormous: it’s been 32 years since the Oilers last won a championship, and no Canadian team has lifted the Cup since 1993. That weight of history, oddly enough, could be fueling the Oilers to leave it all on the ice. They came painfully close last year, and you get the sense that anything short of a Cup will feel like a failure for McDavid’s legacy at this point.

Ultimately, this series feels destined for a Game 7 – the teams are that evenly matched, and neither will go quietly. If it reaches a do-or-die final game in Edmonton, the atmosphere will be electric and the pressure sky-high for both sides. The Panthers’ balanced attack versus the Oilers’ star power is a classic contrast in styles, and each game has swung on just a bounce or two (or a lucky skate deflection). It’s truly a coin flip, but here’s a prediction to cap things off: Edmonton in 7. The Oilers’ superstars seem just a bit more unstoppable when it matters most, and the memory of last year’s defeat might provide that extra push to finish the job this time. Expect McDavid and Draisaitl to rise to the occasion in the deciding moments, finally bringing the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton and ending Canada’s championship drought. One thing’s for sure – if the remaining games live up to what we’ve seen so far, hockey fans are in for a treat no matter who comes out on top.