It’s the best time of the year in the NHL—the 2025 Stanley Cup Final is here, featuring a marquee rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. Connor McDavid has sworn revenge on the Cats, determined to right the Oilers’ wrongs from last year. But against the powerhouse that is Florida, McDavid can’t afford any passengers in Edmonton’s lineup, and Stuart Skinner’s performance is likely to be a decisive factor.
McDavid hasn’t stopped thinking about last season’s defeat for one second throughout the entire NHL campaign. His manifesting skills have definitely worked, as he is now standing in front of a great chance to settle the score with the Panthers and hoist his first Stanley Cup.
The stakes are sky-high for McDavid and the Oilers, the pressure is on them to put their ghosts from the past to rest, and an entire city is riding behind them, anxiously waiting for the team to deliver the sixth Cup in franchise history.
Florida enters the Stanley Cup Final with a calmer mindset. The Panthers are on the cusp of history, chasing back-to-back championships, and they’re riding a wave of confidence. Meanwhile, the Oilers carry the weight of a nation’s hope—Canada’s 32-year Stanley Cup drought hangs heavy. Edmonton believes that skid is destined to end, and who better than Connor McDavid to bring Lord Stanley back to the land that lives and breathes hockey.
Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts to allowing a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
If hockey wasn’t the ultimate team sport, McDavid would already have a couple of Stanley Cups in his cabinet, but the team’s shortcomings have repeatedly come back to bite him. This year feels different, though, and it seems the Oilers are firing in all cylinders as they match up with the deepest roster in the NHL, the Panthers.
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If Edmonton wants a real shot, it can’t afford empty shifts—every line needs to contribute. But most crucially, Skinner must hold the fort. The Oilers’ netminder has been a coin flip this postseason, alternating between brilliance and breakdowns. There’s no room for the latter in the Final.
Troubled stat
Skinner has appeared in 10 games so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it sometimes feels like he has an identical twin taking turns in net. While he’s recorded three shutouts—tied with Sergei Bobrovsky for the most this postseason—he’s also had five outings with a save percentage below .850.
Until the Western Conference Final against the Stars, Skinner’s performances swung between shutouts and sub-.840 save percentages. In the Stanley Cup Final, McDavid and the Oilers will be counting on their goalie to finally bring some consistency between the pipes.
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers speaks with the media prior to the start of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on June 03, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta.
McDavid could sit at the all-time greats’ table
Few players in NHL history possess the combination of skill and versatility that Connor McDavid brings to the ice. While the league has seen its share of superstars, McDavid showcases traits and abilities that are nearly unmatched. Yet, one thing still eludes him—a Stanley Cup. Once he lifts that trophy, his place among the all-time greats will be undeniable.
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McDavid is playing for a spot in the history books, just as much as he is competing to avenge last season’s heartbreak. The Panthers currently present the biggest resistance to the Oilers captain’s legacy, as they stopped McDavid from winning last year, and they will try to do it all over again now.
Heroes and villains
As is often the case in sports, the most successful teams gradually fall out of favor with fans. What starts as an exciting underdog story can quickly turn into resentment when winning becomes routine. The Panthers have taken on that role in the NHL. With three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, their effective—though polarizing—style of play has brought them plenty of success, but few friends around the league.
Head coach Paul Maurice of the Florida Panthers speaks with the media during Media Day for the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Panthers and the Golden Knights in 2023.
The Oilers, on the other hand, are pretty much loved by fans throughout the league—except for the Calgary Flames, obviously. Led by the face of the league, McDavid, and hoping to conquer their first Cup since the Wayne Gretzky days, it’s hard for the neutral fans not to root for them in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
Offense wins games, but defense—you know the rest
The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is set to be a gritty contest between two hard-nosed rosters, both willing to go the extra mile for a shot at the Cup. However, it could all come down to a decisive factor: who can shut down or, at least, keep the opponent on check.
On that note, the Panthers hold the edge over McDavid and the Oilers, and I believe that is what will turn the scale on Florida’s favor, en route to a second straight Stanley Cup victory.
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Series prediction
Florida will look to establish their dominance from the moment the puck drops at Rogers Place in Game 1. Edmonton will have home-ice advantage, but the Panthers simply don’t care, as they have been a better team on the road than at home this postseason.
Setting the tone early will be crucial for both teams, but the edge lies with the Cats. Not even McDavid’s brilliance may be enough to crack the unbreakable lock that is Florida’s defensive zone. And the Oilers’ inconsistency will provide costly against a team that can pounce at any given moment.
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Final prediction: Florida Panthers win the series 4-2.
