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The schedule has been set for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will be Wednesday, June 4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Florida’s first two home games will be on Monday, June 9 and Thursday, June 12.

Interestingly, the NHL strayed from its usual setup of one day between games in the same city and two days between games that require travel.

That’s likely due to the NBA Finals having a game already scheduled for Wednesday, June 11.

As a result, the NHL apparently decided in lieu of extending the series an extra day, there would only be one day off between Game 4 in Sunrise and Game 5 in Edmonton.

All games will air on TNT in the United States and each has an 8 p.m. puck drop.

The full schedule can be seen below:

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Photo caption: Dec 16, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defensemen Dmitry Kulikov (7) tries to tie up Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

EDMONTON – They could smell the blood in the water.

The Edmonton Oilers forced the Dallas Stars back against the wall. Heading into Thursday night’s Game 5, they held a 3-1 edge in the series.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

Connor McDavid touches the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/tke23Lj5BQ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2025

They’ve now steamrolled through three different formidable opponents: the Los Angeles Kings, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Stars. But that’s not enough for Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Now, they get an opportunity for retribution and redemption. Now, they get their chance to defeat the Florida Panthers and hoist the Stanley Cup.

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On Thursday, the Oilers chased starting goalie Jake Oettinger after scoring two goals on their first two shots of the game. Then, shortly after, Jeff Skinner scored his first career playoff goal.

It takes a team to win a playoff series. The Oilers wouldn’t be where they are without the services of Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, Brett Kulak, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kasperi Kapanen, and Calvin Pickard.

Defense wins championships – but so does depth.

The Oilers have the opportunity to do something that hasn’t been done by a Canadian team in 32 years, and that’s win the Stanley Cup.

It won’t be easy, but nothing worth working for ever is.

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As the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars on Thursday in a 6-3 Game 5 victory, they advanced to the Stanley Cup final for the second straight year. This confirms a Cup final rematch from last season between the Oilers and the Florida Panthers.

Last season’s Cup final was one for the ages. After Florida took a 3-0 series lead, Edmonton pushed back and won three games in a row, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. The Panthers went on to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

However, the Oilers get a shot at redemption this time around, and history suggests they have a pretty good chance at being the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993.

The last time the NHL saw a finals rematch was in 2008 and 2009 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. 

The Red Wings got the best of the Penguins in their first matchup, winning the series in six games. In the following season, the Penguins defeated the Wings in seven games, and both teams won their respective Cups on the road.

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby won his first Cup in their rematch against Detroit, leading the NHL with 15 goals in those playoffs. His 31 points in 24 games were the second-most in the post-season, with only teammate and Conn Smythe winner Evgeni Malkin had more with 36 points.

Wayne Gretzky won his first Stanley Cup in the same fashion as Crosby did, and Connor McDavid could potentially do the same this year. 

From 1980 to 1983, the New York Islanders won the Cup four straight times, and the Oilers were the last team they beat during that dynasty. The next season, the Oilers had another crack at the Isles to stop them from winning their fifth straight championship.

The Oilers were successful in the rematch and were awarded the 1984 Stanley Cup. Gretzky scored 13 goals and 22 assists, recording 35 points in 19 playoff games.

It fits the script if McDavid wins his first Cup the same way Crosby and Gretzky did, but we will just have to see what happens when the Oilers and Panthers face off in Game 1 on June 4.

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The 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the series so nice we’re playing it twice.

That’s the result of the two conference finals that ended over the past couple evenings.

First, it was Florida punching their ticket to the Final with a 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night in Raleigh.

Then on Thursday, the Oilers completed their five-game series win over the Dallas Stars with a 6-3 victory at American Airlines Center.

As if last season’s seven-game marathon wasn’t entertaining enough, now we get to do it all again, and it’s very possible that both teams are even better this year than they were in 2024.

During the regular season, the Panthers and Oilers met twice, once in the other’s barn.

Florida won both games, a pair of exciting, one-goal affairs.

The first meeting was in Edmonton back in December, a 6-5 Panthers win, and then again in Sunrise in late February by a final score of 4-3.

In the first game, Florida came back from a 4-2 second period deficit, scoring three goals in the third while breaking a pair of ties to earn the two points.

There was no comeback needed when the two Finalists met in South Florida a couple months later, as Florida scored first and never trailed, again outscoring the Oilers in the third period en route to the win.

Leading the Panthers in points during the two games against Edmonton was Anton Lundell, with a goal and four assist.

Each of Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad each logged three points against the Oilers: Verhaeghe scored twice and Reinhart once, while all of Ekblad’s points were assists.

Looking at how each team has done so far during the postseason, it’s no big surprised they are facing each other again.

The Cats and Oilers are the two highest scoring teams in the postseason, with Edmonton averaging 3.93 goals per game and Florida putting up 3.88.

Defensively, Florida has been the stingiest team in the playoffs, allowing just 2.29 goals per game. Edmonton isn’t far behind, giving up 2.80.

The power plays for each team are ranked 1-2, with the Oilers executing at a 29.0% success rate and the Panthers holding a respectable 23.2%.

Florida’s penalty kill is now the top unit in the playoffs, having successfully wiped-out 87.9 percent of their opponents power plays.

Edmonton’s kill hasn’t been nearly as effective, operating at a 66.7% success rate.

We’ll see how all this plays out when the Stanley Cup Final begins next week.

Game 1 is set for Wednesday, June 4 in Edmonton.

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Photo caption: Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends against Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) during the third period in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Former New Jersey Devils forward Adam Henrique will get another chance to capture the Stanley Cup. 

Now a member of the Edmonton Oilers, Henrique's team defeated the Dallas Stars on Thursday night by a final score of 6-3 to punch their ticket to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final. 

The 35-year-old picked up a primary assist on the Oilers' third goal in their series-winning game. 

In the regular season, Henrique earned 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists). In the playoffs, he earned six points in 16 games. 

It marks the second straight season the Oilers find themselves battling the Florida Panthers for the ultimate prize, as Matthew Tkachuk and his teammates defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 on Wednesday night. 
Game 1 between the Oilers and Panthers is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, in Edmonton. 

Henrique spent the first eight seasons and 455 games of his career with New Jersey. On May 25, 2012, he etched his name in Devils' history with his overtime goal against the New York Rangers to secure New Jersey's spot in the Stanley Cup Final. 

The Devils eventually traded him to the Anaheim Ducks with Joe Blandisi and New Jersey's third-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft for Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick on Nov. 30, 2017. After spending seven seasons in Southern California, Henrique was dealt to Edmonton by the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 or 2026 NHL Draft in Mar. 2024.

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After 15 Seasons and 1,078 regular-season games, Edmonton Oilers left winger Jeff Skinner has finally scored his first career playoff goal on Thursday.

His goal gave Edmonton a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 5 of their Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars. It wasn’t the prettiest goal he’s ever scored, but he certainly won’t mind. His tally gets the Oilers one step closer to advancing to the Stanley Cup final for a second-straight year.

It started with a puck battle in the corner of Dallas’ zone, where Skinner came out with the puck and attempted to execute a centring pass to Trent Frederic. The play was broken up and bobbled in front of the crease before it popped out onto Skinner’s stick. 

From the slot, the 33-year-old made no mistake, throwing it through Casey DeSmith’s five-hole. DeSmith was subbed in for Jake Oettinger as the Stars’ starting goaltender allowed two quick goals on two shots in the first seven minutes of the opening period.

This is Skinner’s second career playoff game. He was the next forward available for Edmonton after losing two right-wingers in Connor Brown and Zach Hyman. Hyman has been ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs as he requires a season-ending surgery.

Therefore, Skinner is playing on the left wing beside Adam Henrique and Frederic on the fourth line.

Ever since his playoff debut earlier in the post-season, he’s been a healthy scratch for Kris Knoblauch’s team.

His first playoff appearance came in Game 1 of the first round against the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers lost that game 6-5 and nearly completed an incredible comeback. 

Skinner recorded a secondary assist in that game to cut the Kings' lead to 4-2. He played 11:12 of ice time and earned a minus-2 plus-minus rating.

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The Seattle Kraken's coaching search is complete.

Lane Lambert is the new coach of the Seattle Kraken and the first coaching hire for new GM Jason Botterill. Lambert gets a second crack at coaching an NHL team after leading the New York Islanders from 2022-23 to halfway through 2023-24.

"After conducting an extensive search, we're thrilled to announce Lane as our new head coach," Botterill told NHL.com's Kraken site. "We cast a wide net for suitable candidates. What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane’s strategy and vision for this team. He was an integral part of the Capitals winning the Cup and the Islanders advancing to two straight Eastern Conference finals. We have full confidence in Lane to lead this team behind the bench."

With the Islanders, Lambert had a combined 61-46-20 record, including a 42-31-9 record in 2022-23 and a 19-15-11 record in 2023-24 before the Islanders replaced him with Patrick Roy. The 60-year-old guided the Isles to the first round of the playoffs in 2023, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.

Lambert spent the 2024-25 season as an associate coach on Craig Berube's bench with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Before his time with the Islanders, he was an assistant coach on the Washington Capitals from 2014-15 to 2017-18, winning the Cup in 2018. He's also been an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators and the bench boss of the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals and WHL's Prince George Cougars.

"I'm so excited to become the head coach of the Seattle Kraken," Lambert said in the announcement. "When it came time to writing a new chapter, I couldn't think of a better fit. Seattle is an incredible sports town, and I’ve been impressed by the energy of the fans every time I’ve been there as a visiting coach. This team has a talented group of young players poised to take the next step and a core group of veterans with great leadership qualities."

The Melfort, Sask., resident played 283 career NHL games from 1983 to 1989 for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques. The right winger had 58 goals and 66 assists for 124 points.

Lambert and Botterill, the latter of whom was promoted to the GM role after Ron Francis was elevated to president of hockey operations, oversee a Kraken squad that finished seventh of eight teams in the Pacific Division with a 35-41-6 record. Despite making the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Kraken missed the following two post-seasons.

Under one season of now-former coach Dan Bylsma, the Kraken finished 16th in the NHL in goals-for with an average of 2.99, 24th in goals-against average at 3.20, 23rd in power-play percentage at 18.9 and 21st in penalty-kill percentage at 77.2.

That said, they have an intriguing mix of talent on the roster, including youngsters Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans, and veterans Jared McCann, Brandon Montour, Vince Dunn, Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz.

Botterill said he wanted a coach who can build relationships with those players. 

"You have to have constant communication with your players," he told NHL.com. "I think it's important that it doesn't just always come from the head coach. The coach has to delegate, and Lane is deeply familiar with that. The coach has to make sure his assistants are interacting non-stop with the skills coach and strength coach, so you are all on the same page, delivering the same message to the players. You're looking for the head coach to be the CEO of the locker room."

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The Buffalo Sabres have their own collection of restricted free agent players to deal with this summer -- most notably, defenseman Bowen Byram and left winger J.J. Peterka -- and although the Sabres have more than enough salary cap space to make a splash ($23.2 million, as per Puck Pedia), one looming RFA who is getting a lot of attention of late is one they should absolutely steer clear of.

We're talking about Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old Austrian had a solid season for Minnesota this year, setting new personal bests in goals (24), assists (36) and points (60), but there's a reason why his name has cropped up in media speculation: when the Wild had to put their best lineup together for their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Rossi was relegated to the fourth line, averaging only 11:08 of ice time. Rossi did post two goals and three points in six playoff games, but the prevailing sentiment is that he's going to be parting ways with the Wild either via trade, offer-sheet, or both.

Given that Rossi made a relatively-modest $863,334 this season, he's bound to get a considerable raise on his next deal. But why should the Sabres -- not exactly the most physically-imposing team in the NHL -- want to add a 5-foot-9 forward to the mix? Besides, Buffalo has its share of youngsters, and giving up the type of assets the Wild would want (a first-round draft pick and a decent prospect) does not seem to be a wise move for the Sabres.

No one is saying Rossi isn't talented. He's not close to his prime yet, and a 30-goal year certainly isn't out of the question for him in the future. But considering where the Sabres are in their competitve development, adding a youngster who couldn't be a meaningful part of an up-and-coming Wild team isn't a move that many legitimate playoff teams would make, at least in the short-term.

The Sabres need someone with more experience than Rossi can offer right now. They don't need to surrender picks and prospects when they've got youngsters in-house who should get a longer look at the NHL level. Let some other team take a chance on Rossi, as Buffalo doesn't need to take that risk at the moment.

Here's Why Oilers' Clutch Player Needs To Be A Free-Agent Target For SabresIn their current playoff push, the Edmonton Oilers have received contributions from throughout the lineup. But one player -- albeit a currently-injured player -- is someone the Buffalo Sabres ought to be targeting when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Sabres did have success with another Austrian native -- former star winger Thomas Vanek -- but in this case, they should be leaving well enough alone and focusing their efforts on acquiring a more proven commodity than Rossi. He's going to be well-compensated by one team or another this summer, but Rossi almost assuredly won't be coming to Buffalo. The risk/reward of adding someone who, for all we know, could take a backward or lateral step this coming season just doesn't make sense for the Sabres.

So put away those Buffalo jerseys with 'Rossi' on the nameplate. He's not going to be a Sabre, and that's not a bad thing for where Buffalo is in its development.

As Panthers and Oilers meet again, how many Cup Final rematches have there been? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are running it back.

The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final features a rematch as the defending champion Panthers battle the Connor McDavid-led Oilers with Lord Stanley on the line once again.

The Panthers defeated the Oilers in a seven-game Cup Final thriller last year to capture their first-ever championship. Florida jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, Edmonton then won three straight elimination games to even the series, and the Panthers took the decisive Game 7 at home by a score of 2-1.

This is the third straight Cup Final appearance for the Panthers, who have a chance to join an exclusive group of repeat champions. Florida made rare history in 2024 by winning the Cup Final the year after finishing as runners-up, and Edmonton now is looking to do the same. The Oilers haven’t hoisted Lord Stanley in over three decades, with their last championship coming in 1990.

With Oilers-Panthers Round 2 set, here’s a look at the history of rematches in Stanley Cup Final:

Has there ever been a Stanley Cup Final rematch?

This isn’t the first time the same two teams have met in consecutive Cup Finals.

How many Stanley Cup Final rematches have there been?

Panthers-Oilers is the fifth Cup Final rematch since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season.

When was the last Stanley Cup Final rematch?

The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were the last teams to meet in consecutive Cup Finals, doing so from 2008 to 2009. Detroit won the 2008 Cup Final in six games before Pittsburgh earned the 2009 Stanley Cup title in seven games.

The four previous Cup Final rematches saw two 2-0 sweeps and two 1-1 splits. Here’s a full look at the results of each championship rematch:

• Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Detroit won 2008 Cup Final in six games, Pittsburgh won in 2009 Cup Final in seven games
• New York Islanders vs. Edmonton Oilers: New York won 1983 Cup Final in four games, Edmonton won 1984 Cup Final in five games
• Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins: Montreal won 1977 Cup Final in four games and 1978 Cup Final in six games
• Montreal Canadiens vs. St. Louis Blues: Montreal won 1968 and 1969 Cup Finals in four games

As Panthers and Oilers meet again, how many Cup Final rematches have there been? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are running it back.

The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final features a rematch as the defending champion Panthers battle the Connor McDavid-led Oilers with Lord Stanley on the line once again.

The Panthers defeated the Oilers in a seven-game Cup Final thriller last year to capture their first-ever championship. Florida jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, Edmonton then won three straight elimination games to even the series, and the Panthers took the decisive Game 7 at home by a score of 2-1.

This is the third straight Cup Final appearance for the Panthers, who have a chance to join an exclusive group of repeat champions. Florida made rare history in 2024 by winning the Cup Final the year after finishing as runners-up, and Edmonton now is looking to do the same. The Oilers haven’t hoisted Lord Stanley in over three decades, with their last championship coming in 1990.

With Oilers-Panthers Round 2 set, here’s a look at the history of rematches in Stanley Cup Final:

Has there ever been a Stanley Cup Final rematch?

This isn’t the first time the same two teams have met in consecutive Cup Finals.

How many Stanley Cup Final rematches have there been?

Panthers-Oilers is the fifth Cup Final rematch since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season.

When was the last Stanley Cup Final rematch?

The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were the last teams to meet in consecutive Cup Finals, doing so from 2008 to 2009. Detroit won the 2008 Cup Final in six games before Pittsburgh earned the 2009 Stanley Cup title in seven games.

The four previous Cup Final rematches saw two 2-0 sweeps and two 1-1 splits. Here’s a full look at the results of each championship rematch:

• Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Detroit won 2008 Cup Final in six games, Pittsburgh won in 2009 Cup Final in seven games
• New York Islanders vs. Edmonton Oilers: New York won 1983 Cup Final in four games, Edmonton won 1984 Cup Final in five games
• Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins: Montreal won 1977 Cup Final in four games and 1978 Cup Final in six games
• Montreal Canadiens vs. St. Louis Blues: Montreal won 1968 and 1969 Cup Finals in four games

When does the Stanley Cup Final start? Here's the full Panthers-Oilers schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The last two NHL teams standing in 2025 are the same as in 2024.

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will square off in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year. It’s just the fifth time since the start of the expansion era in 1967-68 that the same two teams have met in consecutive Cup Finals.

The Panthers outlasted the Oilers in a roller-coaster 2024 Cup Final that went the distance. Edmonton erased a 3-0 series deficit with three straight victories in elimination games, but Florida avoided a historic collapse by taking Game 7 at home to claim the franchise’s first championship.

This is the Panthers’ third straight appearance in the Cup Final as they look to join an exclusive list of repeat Stanley Cup winners. Florida, which entered the 2025 playoffs as the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, bounced the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, took down the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, and won the Eastern Conference Final over the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

The Panthers have 10 players with at least 10 points this postseason, led by captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points), forward Matthew Tkachuk (16) and center Sam Bennett (16). And between the pipes, Sergei Bobrovsky boasts a 2.11 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.

Edmonton, meanwhile, is looking to repeat the rare history that Florida pulled off last season by following up a Cup Final loss with a championship. The Oilers, the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed, first overcame a 2-0 series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings with four straight comeback victories before defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Edmonton won the Western Conference Final over the Dallas Stars for the second straight year, this time in five games. Since starting the playoffs with two straight defeats, the Oilers have lost just twice.

The star duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl has powered the Oilers back to the Cup Final, as they seek the franchise’s first championship since 1990 and sixth overall. McDavid and Draisitl are this postseason’s points leaders with 26 and 25, respectively. McDavid could be on his way to a second straight Conn Smythe Trophy after winning the award in a losing effort last year.

But will the NHL’s best player be able to bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton? Or will the Panthers double up their Stanley Cup title haul by going back-to-back? From the format to the schedule and more, here’s what to know about the 2025 Cup Final:

Who has home-ice advantage in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final?

Unlike last year, the Oilers will have home-ice advantage in the Cup Final thanks to finishing with more points than Florida in the regular season.

What is the Stanley Cup Final format?

The Cup Final is best-of-seven with a 2-2-1-1-1 format where the team with home-ice advantage hosts Games 1 and 2, along with the potential Games 5 and 7.

When is Game 1 of the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final?

The Cup Final begins Wednesday, June 4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final schedule

• Game 1: Panthers at Oilers — Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Panthers at Oilers — Friday, June 6, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Oilers at Panthers — Monday, June 9, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Oilers at Panthers — Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 5 (if necessary): Panthers at Oilers — Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 6 (if necessary): Oilers at Panthers — Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 7 (if necessary): Panthers at Oilers — Friday, June 20, 8 p.m. ET

What TV channel is the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final on?

All Cup Final games will air on TNT and truTV.

Where to stream the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final live online

Oilers-Panthers will also be available to stream on TNTDrama.com, truTV.com, the TNT app, the truTV app and Max.

When does the Stanley Cup Final start? Here's the full Panthers-Oilers schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The last two NHL teams standing in 2025 are the same as in 2024.

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will square off in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year. It’s just the fifth time since the start of the expansion era in 1967-68 that the same two teams have met in consecutive Cup Finals.

The Panthers outlasted the Oilers in a roller-coaster 2024 Cup Final that went the distance. Edmonton erased a 3-0 series deficit with three straight victories in elimination games, but Florida avoided a historic collapse by taking Game 7 at home to claim the franchise’s first championship.

This is the Panthers’ third straight appearance in the Cup Final as they look to join an exclusive list of repeat Stanley Cup winners. Florida, which entered the 2025 playoffs as the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, bounced the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, took down the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, and won the Eastern Conference Final over the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

The Panthers have 10 players with at least 10 points this postseason, led by captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points), forward Matthew Tkachuk (16) and center Sam Bennett (16). And between the pipes, Sergei Bobrovsky boasts a 2.11 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.

Edmonton, meanwhile, is looking to repeat the rare history that Florida pulled off last season by following up a Cup Final loss with a championship. The Oilers, the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed, first overcame a 2-0 series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings with four straight comeback victories before defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Edmonton won the Western Conference Final over the Dallas Stars for the second straight year, this time in five games. Since starting the playoffs with two straight defeats, the Oilers have lost just twice.

The star duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl has powered the Oilers back to the Cup Final, as they seek the franchise’s first championship since 1990 and sixth overall. McDavid and Draisitl are this postseason’s points leaders with 26 and 25, respectively. McDavid could be on his way to a second straight Conn Smythe Trophy after winning the award in a losing effort last year.

But will the NHL’s best player be able to bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton? Or will the Panthers double up their Stanley Cup title haul by going back-to-back? From the format to the schedule and more, here’s what to know about the 2025 Cup Final:

Who has home-ice advantage in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final?

Unlike last year, the Oilers will have home-ice advantage in the Cup Final thanks to finishing with more points than Florida in the regular season.

What is the Stanley Cup Final format?

The Cup Final is best-of-seven with a 2-2-1-1-1 format where the team with home-ice advantage hosts Games 1 and 2, along with the potential Games 5 and 7.

When is Game 1 of the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final?

The Cup Final begins Wednesday, June 4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final schedule

• Game 1: Panthers at Oilers — Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Panthers at Oilers — Friday, June 6, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Oilers at Panthers — Monday, June 9, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Oilers at Panthers — Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 5 (if necessary): Panthers at Oilers — Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 6 (if necessary): Oilers at Panthers — Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 7 (if necessary): Panthers at Oilers — Friday, June 20, 8 p.m. ET

What TV channel is the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final on?

All Cup Final games will air on TNT and truTV.

Where to stream the Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final live online

Oilers-Panthers will also be available to stream on TNTDrama.com, truTV.com, the TNT app, the truTV app and Max.

The NHL talent starring in the second season of Prime Video’s behind-the-scenes series should make for some must-watch moments.

NHL and Prime Video collaborated for a second season of their popular Faceoff: Inside the NHL streaming TV series. 

Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby, Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen, brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk and Toronto Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander are some players featured in Season 2.

Los Angeles Kings stars Anze Kopitar and Quinton Byfield, now-former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, retiring Minnesota Wild star goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Columbus Blue Jackets players Sean Monahan and Zach Werenski are also in the series. That’s a cast that has a wide variety of personalities. Seeing Hockey Hall of Famers like Shanahan and surefire Hall of Famers like Fleury and Crosby really adds to the appeal of this series. 

To be sure, these types of documentaries always have something for casual and hardcore hockey fans alike. And this season’s dramatic moments – including the all-time goal-scoring race from Washington Capitals right winger Alexander Ovechkin, as well as the high drama of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament – would be great to see behind the scenes.

But Rantanen getting a major surprise when the Colorado Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes, which later sent him to the Stars, is an intriguing storyline. 

Of course, seeing Monahan, Werenski and the Blue Jackets playing out this season while grieving the loss of teammate Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, could hopefully help the rest of the hockey community remember the brothers and continue their legacies.

As we know, the NHL continues to try and market the personalities of the game – not always an easy task, given how guarded many players and management members can be – so this new series is welcome content for the game. The intricacies and subtleties of the sport are magnified in these documentaries, and that can only be a good thing for all involved. We want there to be a heightened sense of the stakes involved for people across the league, and we’re drawn in by exclusive moments that will stay with fans for quite some time to come.

As the hockey documentary genre evolves, it will be intriguing to see what new angles are explored in this season of the show. The main hook for the series is all about access that we might not otherwise have, but if this doc pushes the envelope in one regard or another, that will set it apart from your garden-variety sports series.

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What a year it's been for Alexander Nikishin.

The touted prospect finally made his way to North America after years of hype and was even able get a few games under his belt in the NHL playoffs too.

The 23-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut facing one of his hockey idols in Alex Ovechkin, playing in Game 5 of the Carolina Hurricanes' second-round series against the Washington Capitals.

While that game wasn't necessarily one to remember for him, Nikishin was forced back into the lineup due to additional injuries to the Hurricanes blueline and that's when he really started to impress.

Despite facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final, Nikishin looked calm and composed and was even tasked with playing significant minutes.

He looked every bit an NHL regular despite that inexperience.

But before he was in North America, he was finishing up his sixth season in the KHL.

Nikishin's final year in Russia was another big one as the 6-foot-3 defender racked up 17 goals and 46 points in 61 games while captaining SKA St. Petersburg.

The talented blueliner was an integral piece for SKA, playing 20+ minutes nightly and in all situations. 

As such, he was recognized at the end of the year as one of six players selected to the 2025 KHL All-Star Team.

Former Hurricane Josh Leivo was also named to the 2025 All-Star Team as he set the KHL single-season scoring record with a 49-goal campaign.

Here is the 2024-25 KHL Season All-Star Team!#KHLAwardspic.twitter.com/eOduKByWWf

— KHL (@khl_eng) May 29, 2025

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In his end-of-season press conference, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was vague about plans for his team’s off-season. But one comment he made was particularly interesting.

“There’s some DNA that has to change in our team,” he told reporters Thursday.

Now, many observers would interpret that to mean notable roster changes are coming for the Maple Leafs. However, it’s fair to ask that the DNA of Leafs management in the post-Brendan Shanahan Era must also change. 

If Treliving wants his players to have more of a killer instinct on the ice, he and his management team should have a similar, more aggressive way of dealing with the Maple Leafs’ roster.

It’s been clear that Toronto has catered to its core players in recent years.

On some levels, you can understand why. Leafs brass wanted to create an environment players would want to be part of – and you don’t get that by going full scorched-earth in player relations. You need buy-in from your most important employees, and that’s what Treliving & Co. have been trying to do. 

But if you want a team to follow the lead of organizations that have gone further in the Stanley Cup playoffs than the Maple Leafs have, you absolutely want to see more of that assertiveness when making personnel decisions.

Look at the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, for instance. Vegas became a Cup champion with a cold-blooded approach that regularly jettisoned players as they tried to find the winning lineup. 

The Panthers, meanwhile, made major moves, including trading Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar in a package for Matthew Tkachuk and walking away from Brandon Montour due to salary cap reasons. 

They were proactive on numerous fronts, including picking up Brad Marchand and Seth Jones this season. And now, the Panthers are back in the Cup final. It’s not a coincidence that Vegas and Florida got to where they are right now. It’s a function of the philosophy they’ve used in building and changing as needed.

So when we’re talking about the Maple Leafs changing their management’s DNA, Leafs fans should want to see Treliving being willing to walk away from players they might not have walked away from in the past. Whether that means parting ways with stars Mitch Marner and John Tavares when they become UFAs a month from now, or whether that means convincing defenseman Morgan Rielly to waive his no-trade clause, the bottom line is there can be no more sentimentality ruling the day when it comes to figuring out a new core to build around.

This means going to Marner and Tavares with a certain dollar figure and, in essence, telling them, “If you want to stay in Toronto, it’s going to be on our terms.” 

So if Marner wants to set a new bar for the Leafs’ salary structure, and he doesn’t want to take less money than Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million cap hit or as much as star right winger William Nylander’s $11.5 million, then Treliving must be prepared to move on without Marner.

The days of half the Leafs’ roster getting some form of no-trade or no-move clause also have to end. Suffice it to say, they cannot improve as easily when so many players who should be traded are locked in with the Maple Leafs. Maybe that means handing out only modified no-trade clauses and not offering them to depth players, but limiting them would be another instance of management having a different DNA.

Again, we’re not suggesting Treliving take on a dictatorial tone with each relationship he’s got with his players. But on some foundational level, there cannot be a country club atmosphere any longer in Toronto. When you see teams like the Panthers and Golden Knights being strong-willed when it comes to player relations, that’s a path you clearly should want to follow. 

So yes, by all means, let’s see the Maple Leafs continue to evolve their on-ice approach to be much tougher to play against. But without a DNA change in the ways Leafs management works with its players, Toronto’s struggles are bound to continue.

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