Oilers and Panthers Look Set for a Stanley Cup Rematch in 2025

The last time the Stanley Cup Final featured the same opponents in consecutive seasons was the 2008 and 2009 playoffs, when the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins took turns partying at championship parades at each other’s expense.

Brace yourself for it to happen again this year, with the Edmonton Oilers getting a shot at revenge against the Florida Panthers.

Now that we are a couple of games into each of the conference finals, it is shaping up for a rematch of last year’s final that Florida won in seven games.

Sure, the Oilers are currently tied with the Dallas Stars 1-1, but Edmonton has the upper hand as the series heads north for Sunday afternoon’s Game 3.

Through the first two clashes — the 6-3 win by Dallas in the opener and a 3-0 Edmonton victory on Friday — the Oilers have been the better team in five of six periods.

The only reason Dallas is even is thanks to one wild third period in which the Stars exploded with five unanswered goals, three on the power play, to erase a two-goal deficit.

Otherwise, the Oilers have been in control of both games.

Not only does Edmonton have home-ice advantage, but there are some concerning warning signs from the Stars in the first two outings of their third consecutive trip to the conference finals.

Beyond their third-period outburst, Dallas has struggled to consistently control play. The Stars are not alone in having a tough time keeping in check Edmonton’s dynamic offensive duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the Oilers’ speed is causing chaos for lengthy stretches by forcing the play — and turnovers.

Adding to the concern-o-meter is how the elements that were supposed to give Dallas the upper hand are not coming to fruition. Goaltender Jake Oettinger is not outplaying his counterpart, Mr. Boom or Bust, Stuart Skinner. The Dallas power play — save for that trio of goals — has looked more disjointed than a beer-league squad. And worst of all, the scoring depth is struggling, with the likes of Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston suffering from either injuries or simply being snakebitten.

Last year, the Oilers and Stars were tied after the first two games in Dallas before Edmonton pulled away and won the best-of-seven series in six games. Right now, this appears to be following a similar path.

Speaking of familiar results, the Panthers are returning home looking for a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.

Florida won both games in Raleigh, North Carolina, including a dominant 5-0 victory in Game 2, and this series looks like a perfect example of an unstoppable force meeting a moveable object.

While the Panthers are gearing up like Max Verstappen flying out of a corner and down a straightaway, the Hurricanes are watching the wheels fall off — yet again.

How a team can lose 14 consecutive conference final games, like the Hurricanes have, is a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes.

All those elements that sent the Hurricanes into the third round with momentum — their ability to control the tempo and possession, offensive flair (notably from top scorer Andrei Svechnikov), and their defensive game — have exploded and dissipated like a SpaceX Starship after takeoff.

Instead of exacting revenge of their own for being swept by the Panthers in the 2023 conference final, the Hurricanes are withering. Again.

It’s almost as if, after giving their best swing in the series opener and watching it go for naught, the Hurricanes are bracing for an inevitable sweep.

Do not be shocked if the brooms are out in Sunrise before long, and we are treated to Round 2 of the Panthers and Oilers dropping the puck for Lord Stanley’s mug.