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Welcome to NHL Predictions! Here we are—the final two teams in the Western Conference. One team will advance to play for the Stanley Cup against the winner of the Eastern Conference Final. Last Word on Hockey is here again to look at each game and give our prediction. The 2025 Western Conference Final begins in Texas, where the Dallas Stars are hosting the Edmonton Oilers.
Time: 8:00 P.M. EST
TV: ESPN, ESPN+
For a second year in a row, the Stars and Oilers meet in the Western Conference Final. Last year, the Oilers beat the Stars in six games to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2006. The Stars led the series 2-1 before the Oilers rattled off three wins in a row. A year later, the two teams meet again. The Stars seek revenge while the Oilers seek a return to the Final.
Once again, the Stars enter a series with home-ice advantage. In these playoffs, the Stars are 6-1 and have clinched each series win on home ice. Hockey in Texas has been kind to the Stars, but they need it to continue against the Oilers. The Oilers, like the Stars, have played great at home. The Oilers are 4-1 on home ice and have used home ice to turn the tide of their first two series. For the Oilers, their goal for Games 1 and 2 is simple. They want to earn a split, and if not, win both. Even a split would steal the home-ice advantage and give the Oilers a chance to continue controlling the series on their ice.
Should the Stars need to win the first two games of the series? No, but it would help put a confident Oilers team against the ropes. Furthermore, the Stars have not been as good on the road. They are 2-4 on the road in these playoffs. These first two games at home are essential for the Stars.
Stuart Skinner helped the Oilers reach the Final last season. However, Stuart had a rough start this postseason and was eventually replaced by Calvin Pickard. Pickard played well, helping the Oilers win their first-round series, but he was injured in round two. Skinner returned, and he bounced back with two shutouts. Skinner will likely start the series for the Oilers.
The goaltending has gotten better, but will it last? The Oilers are facing a Dallas team with a better offence than either of their two prior opponents. In addition, the Stars lineup is getting healthy, meaning the team will be at full strength as they face the Oilers. For the Oilers to win this series, they will need their goaltending to perform. Whether it is Stuart or Pickard, one must steal a game or two in this series.
This is an important Game 1, to say the least. All Game 1s are important, of course, as are all playoff games. This one, however, feels like a pretty big one. The team that wins Game 1 may win the series because of the tone that is set.
We will pick the team that is 6-1 on home ice to start the series with a victory.
Stars win, 4-1.
The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. We are taking just under that with five goals.
We are taking Mikko Rantanen as an anytime scorer for the Stars for prop bets. Rantanen has had an excellent postseason for the Stars, including two hat tricks. For the Oilers, we are picking former Star who is looking for his fifth trip to the Stanley Cup Final, Corey Perry.
Main Photo: Tim Heitman- Imagn Images
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Andrew Willis has been a hockey and St. Louis Blues fan since 2007. Andrew’s passion for the Blues, hockey, and writing have come together multiple times. Andrew wrote hockey articles for his high school newspaper from 2011-2015 and had a brief stint with LWOH in 2020.
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