2025 Stanley Cup Conference Finals Previews and Picks
We remarked that all four series in the conference semifinals had the team without home ice advantage favored. Though it felt there was no way they could all win, they did. The same thing is happening again with Florida favored over Carolina and Dallas is a very small favorite against Edmonton. A look at odds, shows we should have two very close, highly competitive series.
2025 Stanley Cup – Odds to Win (from Betonline)
Florida Panthers +235
Edmonton Oilers +240
Dallas Stars +280
Carolina Hurricanes +335
NHL Eastern Conference Finals Preview and Predictions
3A Florida Panthers (-132 odds) vs. 2M Carolina Hurricanes (+112 odds)
For a second time in three years, these combatants will do battle to be East Conference champions.
Florida had a shocking 4-0 sweep over Carolina at this point two years ago to reach this juncture. This season the Panthers had two decisive triumphs over the Hurricanes, 6-1 and 6-3, before winning in East Florida 3-1 way back on Jan. 2.
Carolina would think to have the edge early, playing just five games to Florida’s seven and having rested at home while the Hurricanes had to travel from Toronto to Raleigh with just one day off.
Florida Wins If……they continue to get their opponents off-kilter with relentless shots taken and physical play in the offensive zone. The
pressure not only makes defenses work harder to stop the Panthers onslaught, they feel the need to secure the loose puck and make the perfect pass while more often than not getting hit as or just after they tried to pass. This leads to miscues and Florida can control ice time in their end. Florida leads the playoffs with 45 goals. Former Boston star Brad Marchand is tied for the team lead with 12 points and is rejuvenated with a team matching his gritty style of play.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been arguably the NHL’s best playoff goalie since 2023. He is delivering in a big way for the Panthers again this spring and is 8-4, with a 90.1 save percentage, turning that up to 95.7% in the last four games.
Carolina Wins If……they continue to pound shots at the goal and play defense. Like Florida, the Hurricanes keep peppering the net. They are less concerned with shot quality (sometimes a detriment) and instead keep the defense occupied with thinking where the next shot comes from. Andrei Svechnikov has eight goals in 10 playoff games and it’s hard to focus just on him because the ‘Canes just keep firing like it’s target practice.
Carolina’s defense is suffocating thus far at 1.80 goals a game, permitting the fewest shots on goal. Even as good as the Hurricanes have played on defense, Frederik Andersen statistically has been the best goalie during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, at 7-2 with a 1.36 GAA and .937 save percentage in nine games.
Prediction: Panthers in 7 – This series features two squads hell-bent on imposing their will. Carolina has home ice and is 36-10 in their building, yet, they have wilted in the biggest moments while Florida thrives.
NHL Western Conference Finals Preview and Picks
2C Dallas Stars (-122 odds) vs. 3P Edmonton Oilers (+102)
Dallas and Edmonton will play against each other in the Western Conference Finals for the second season in a row. This isn’t new for either club this time of year. This is the Stars’ third straight visit to the West Finals, losing in six games to the Oilers and six games to Vegas the previous season.
Edmonton advanced in six games last season before falling to Florida in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final. Otherwise, this the third visit to this stage in the past four seasons.
Dallas won two of three meetings, the last on the Oilers ice 4-3 at the end of March.
Edmonton Wins If……they play their game. With a stellar collection of exceptional north-south skaters with the puck on their stick, the Oilers generate offense out of thin air. With Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Corey Perry, these are dangerous players who, it seems, magically appear in front of the opposing goalie and bury a puck in the net. The scary part for Dallas, Edmonton had one power play in the series win over Vegas and is 2-for-14 in its last seven contests. The Oilers were #11 during the regular season.
Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have both played between the pipes in this series. Skinner was yanked after two ugly losses, Pickard played well enough for Edmonton to win before getting hurt in Game 2 vs. the Golden Knights, when Skinner returned. Skinner enters off two shutouts at over 127 minutes of posting zeros. The Oilers defense is not elite, but it works best when the defensemen play positional and give their goalies a sightline to see pucks.
Dallas Wins If……Mikko Rantanen has received a lot of attention for the Stars with his nine goals and 10 assists in the playoffs. Nevertheless, a closer look finds Dallas has gotten goals from 12 different players in their first 13 games of the postseason. Against a high-scoring team like Edmonton, you need scoring depth because the Oilers will light the lamp and the opponent has to keep up.
Netminder Oettinger is 8-5 with a 2.47 GAA and a .919 save percentage, having played every contest. Where he’s come up big is off a loss at 5-0 with a .929 save percentage. It’s imperative the Stars win the majority of face-offs and don’t allow the Oilers to get skating which leads to odd-man rushes with outstanding shooters. Controlling the tempo gives Dallas the best chance.
Prediction: Oilers in 6 – If the Edmonton power play is just back to normal, that’s extra scoring for them. It’s difficult to slow the Oilers speed and scoring ability and they win on home ice.
About Us
T&C
Privacy
Contact
Buy Picks