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The 2025 Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight as the Edmonton Oilers host the Florida Panthers in Game 1.
The series is a rematch of last year's final, which the Panthers won in seven games.
Follow along as our reporters on the ground in Edmonton and our team of NHL experts across the continent have you covered with the latest insight and analysis.
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Sergei Bobrovsky is the highest paid goaltender in the league and has played like it during these playoffs. The Panthers haven't needed to go to his backup, Vitek Vanecek, for even one second.
The Oilers, meanwhile, have had a more adventurous goaltending route through the playoffs. Stuart Skinner started the postseason in net but was quickly chased after allowing 11 goals in the first two games against the Kings in the first round. Calvin Pickard replaced him and excelled, ripping off six straight wins before suffering an injury. That gave Skinner an opportunity to reclaim the starting role. He's grabbed that chance with both hands, steadying the ship and remaining starter despite Pickard eventually returning from his injury.
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Game faces.
We here at The Athletic are committed to providing elite, award-winning coverage across all sports but with the Stanley Cup Final beginning tonight, this is the perfect time to highlight our excellent NHL coverage.
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The Oilers and Panthers are facing off in the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year, after Florida beat Edmonton in seven games last season.
This marks the 11th Stanley Cup Final rematch in NHL history (including one stretch of three straight), but just the second in the past 40 years. The list below shows each rematch, with the winners in parentheses. The four teams listed in bold are the teams that lost the first year but managed to win the rematch.
The reigning champions own a 7-4 series record in the previous Stanley Cup Final rematches (including the Red Wings winning and losing during the three-year stretch from 1954-56). However, the runner-up has won each of the two rematches.
That was the message Matthew Tkachuk gave to Connor McDavid during the handshake line after the Panthers won the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
One year and 1,392 NHL games later, that has become a reality.
Unlike this year, the Stanley Cup Final opened in Florida last year. The Panthers comfortably took both Games 1 and 2 at home, winning 3-0 and 4-1.
As the series shifted to Edmonton, the Oilers needed to respond. They failed to do so in Game 3, however, mounting a third-period comeback from three goals down that fell just short. That defeat led to Connor McDavid's powerful locker-room rant that you can watch below.
Facing a 3-0 hole, Edmonton would have to become just the second team ever to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the final if they were to win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers made quite the statement in Game 4, winning 8-1 on the back of four points from McDavid.
Another four-point performance by McDavid in Game 5 in Florida extended Edmonton's season again, before a dominant 5-1 Oilers victory at home in Game 6 set up a winner-takes-all finale.
This was just the second SCF Game 7 since 2011, and it wasn't short of drama. The teams spent nearly the entire first half of the game tied after Carter Verhaeghe and Mattias Janmark traded early goals. Sam Reinhart scored late in the second period to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead, and though the Oilers did everything they could, Florida held on to win by that score and clinch its first Stanley Cup.
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It may only be Game 1 tonight, but it's never too early to think about which players are in the running for this year's Conn Smythe Trophy. Remember, the award is given to the MVP of the entire postseason, not just the Stanley Cup Final.
Sam Bennett leads all players with 10 goals this postseason, three more than any other player appearing in the final. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid (26) and Leon Draisaitl (25) are well out in front of the rest of the players in the final in terms of points, the next closest skater coming in at 18.
And in terms of goalies, Sergei Bobrovsky would be your frontrunner at the moment, given the Oilers have split time between Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Bobrovsky's numbers of .912 save percentage, 2.11 GAA and three shutouts are worthy of being in the discussion if not overwhelming.
Last year, McDavid posted eight goals and an incredible 34 assists to become the first player since 2003 to win the Conn Smythe despite playing for the losing team in the final. As you can watch below, he did not return to the ice to claim the trophy when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced him as the winner.
Corey Perry has had an incredible run of playing on teams that reach the Stanley Cup Final in recent years. 2025 marks the fifth time in the past six seasons that the 40-year-old will play in the final, as well as the sixth time overall in his career.
His previous SCF appearances: 2024 Oilers, 2022 Lightning, 2021 Canadiens, 2020 Stars and 2007 Ducks.
He'll become the first player since 1988 to appear in five finals in the space of six seasons.
He's only won the cup one time, however, all the way back in 2007.
Corey Perry has experienced a remarkable career resurgence this season. The 40-year old scored 19 goals during the regular season, tied for his most in a single season since 2015-16. In the playoffs, he's already scored seven goals. That ranks as the third most in a single postseason in his career, and this is his 17th appearance in the playoffs!
Perry is rising up the all-time leaderboard for career playoff games. He's currently tied for seventh most in NHL history, and could rise as high as fourth by the end of the Stanley Cup Final.
This is a real fan!
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told the media that his team have been waiting for this exact opportunity since the end of last year's Stanley Cup Final.
"I think we spent seven months getting ready for this playoff run," he said. "I think it was on our minds since we lost that last game. It a long, tough summer and training camp, regular season. It was just kind of punching our card, showing up, wanting in the playoffs just to have another opportunity."
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Panthers coach Paul Maurice didn't sound like he saw much daylight between his team and their opponent when he spoke to the media ahead of tonight's Game 1.
"I think both teams are still pretty consistent with their identity and their style of play," he said. "They're a year further into their program now and so are we. They've had three great years. They just didn't get to the final three years ago, but they've had long playoff runs. I think they're better at what they do now, and we are as well."
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Cory B.: Pro sports are not about who deserves what, but man the Oilers deserve to win this. The way they battled back down 3-0 to lose by one goal in Game 7 last year was heartbreaking. The Oilers and their fans deserve this, and this die hard Leafs fan hope they get it.
John B.: Edmonton outplayed Florida last year in every game with the exception of Game 7. The difference was goaltending. When Skinner was even remotely average and Bob came down from his high, Edmonton won. It will probably be a similar story this year.
Kspringerrw: McDavid's comments about winning in the playoffs feeling normal and just the status quo this year were a bit terrifying. This Oiler team feels different. The past few years it felt like McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard needed to go into overdrive to win almost every game. This year it feels like they've needed to do that once or twice per series.
Kspringerrw is referring to what Connor McDavid said after winning the Western Conference final: "This year it feels a little bit more normal. Just been kind of status quo. It's been fun to be a part of. Hasn't been as emotional. Been very, just, kind of direct, smooth and steady. It's been fun."
Remember, you can join the conversation by emailing us at live@theathletic.com or by heading over to the Game 1 discussion page.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, Leon Draisaitl spoke about the prospect of getting revenge on the Panthers after last year's loss.
"We know what they're about," he said. "We played them seven times and they're a good team. We're a really good team as well. It's nice to get a shot at getting some revenge, but we're a long ways from that."
Connor McDavid is tied with Joe Pavelski for the fifth-most career playoff points by a player without a Stanley Cup or before winning their first.
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Connor McDavid told the media that last year's defeat to the Panthers has pushed the Oilers to succeed this time around.
"I think we were better for going through last year," McDavid said. "It was a great learning experience and it's really driven us all year."
He also spoke about how this year's playoff run has felt much calmer than last year's, and how that's an advantage for Edmonton.
"I think this run has felt different than last year. It's felt very normal. It's felt very, I don't want to say boring because it's not boring at all, but it hasn't been as emotional. We haven't had the highs, and we haven't had the lows. It's just kind of been steady and I think that's put us in a good position."
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Speaking to the media ahead of tonight's Game 1, the Panthers made it clear that they're not taking the Oilers lightly despite having beaten them in the Stanley Cup Final last year.
"It's going to be an incredible battle again," Sam Reinhart said. "They're playing, obviously, some pretty dominant hockey, so we're excited for the challenge. We've got to be ready for it."
"They're a really good team," Carter Verhaeghe added. "They've been to the final. They're definitely a hungry team. It's not easy to go to the final two times in a row, so they want it bad. So, it's for us to kind of play our game and we're going to be ready, too."
Jason I.: We've all known we have something special down here for going on four years now, I'm very pleased to see it finally be recognized on a national level. It's not just that this team is good, obviously, they won the cup, but this team is special beyond just that, this team is special AMONG Cup winners. In my opinion they are getting very very close to that "dynasty" moniker. For those of us that have spent the last 30 or so years cheering for this team these last five years have truly been amazing.
Eric S.: Whatever the outcome, this Panthers team the past 3 seasons has been the highlight of 30 years of fandom and I've absolutely appreciated every moment of it. The structure and consistency and character and success. The soul destroying is a fun little bonus.
Manny G.: Panthers fan here. I have no idea who’s going to win. I was worried last year, and I’m worried again. I think there is something to the revenge angle.
Steven N.: The Panthers better in every metric other than the fact they don't have the two best players in the world on their team. Like last year, it'll come down to how much and the timing of when McDavid/Draisaitl go psycho mode. It's going to happen…but will it be enough or too late?
Remember, you can join the conversation by emailing us at live@theathletic.com or by heading over to the Game 1 discussion page.
Brian L.: One team has McDavid and that's gonna be enough in an even matchup.
Robert F.: The Oilers are gonna win in 5 games. Rematches don’t bode well for the previous winner. The Oilers' style of play has matured so much. I actually don’t think it will be a close series. Edmonton is deeper and healthier and more responsible. The only thing that can derail them is poor goaltending.
Anonymous: Florida is just too physical and smothering, they look better this year. So does Edmonton, but Bobrovsky is unequivocally the more seasoned guy and Florida is too good. I like Florida in 6 … 5 if Skinner is lukewarm again.
Nicholas B.: I think Edmonton has dominated better teams than Florida. Florida has had an easier ride and that will benefit them. I think really what this whole series is gonna come down to is Skinner. If Skinner is good Edmonton wins and if he isn’t they won’t. Pickard same deal. As long as Edmonton gets good goaltending I don’t think there is another team that can skate with them. Oilers in 5.
Remember, you can join the conversation by emailing us at live@theathletic.com or by heading over to the Game 1 discussion page.
