- What: 2025 NHL Conference Finals
- Who: Edmonton vs. Dallas in the Western Conference
- Where: Game 1 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
- How to watch: ESPN
And then there were four. After a thrilling second round of the playoffs, we've reached the finals for both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference. On one side of things, both the Oilers and Stars are ready to do whatever is needed to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. As things stand, though, Edmonton is a small favorite over Dallas in the 2025 NHL Conference Finals.
Which side will end up coming out on top? When it comes to the Oilers, people can't stop hyping up Connor McDavid and what he might be able to get done against the Stars. These are two very talented teams, but no one can argue with the fact that McDavid is one of the best players in the league. He's laser-focused on helping Edmonton move on past Dallas.
| NHL Conference Finals odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton to win | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Dallas to win | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Florida to win | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Carolina to win | +125 | +125 | +125 |
“Obviously they're a really deep team,” McDavid said recently. “We’re in the conference final so everybody is going to be a good team, but they have scoring all over. Eight 20-goal scorers. Incredibly deep. They’re a really good team. (Mikko) Rantanen helps and their power play really seems to be clicking. It’s going to be tough but we’re excited for the challenge.”
According to the best sports betting sites, Edmonton has been given -110 hockey betting odds to take down Dallas. Meanwhile for the Stars, they've been set at +125 per the top NHL betting sites. From our chair, this feels like it's going to be a bit of a toss up. With all of that said, we're going with our gut in picking the Oilers to take down the stars and win the conference title.
"I didn't think I would be in this position this quick... Today was the first time with the team on the ice in a full practice. Now it's a matter of how do I feel tomorrow? I'm trying to be on a day-to-day basis."
Mattias Ekholm on his progress.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/5Z1VIu4dKy
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 19, 2025
Florida is expected to take down Carolina in the Eastern Conference Finals
As for the other side of the bracket, it should come as no surprise that Florida is expected to take down Carolina in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Hurricanes have looked nothing short of sensational during the postseason, while the same could be said about Carolina. However, the Panthers have been just a bit more impressive on both ends of the ice, which is why people are giving them the edge.
"If you look at the heat this team catches, it's actually really unfortunate," Florida star Brad Marchand said after the Game 7 win over Toronto that people are still celebrating quite a bit. "They've been working at building something really big here for a while. They were a different brand of hockey this year, and they're getting crucified. I don't think it's justified."
Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito turned around the entire organization.
He should have already been GM of the Year and he should already have a street named after him in the City of Sunrise. Zito Way. https://t.co/bdJNwErwfK
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 19, 2025
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As for the action between Florida and Carolina, the Panthers have been given -110 betting odds, while the Hurricanes are checking in at +125. We don't anticipate this series wrapping up quickly, as things could end up going a full seven games. This should be a series to remember, but we're going with the Panthers as our pick.
Florida is the overall favorite to win the Stanley Cup
As for the big picture, Florida is the overall favorite to win the Stanley Cup. This should come as no surprise, as the Panthers were able to take down the Maple Leafs in Game 7, posting a dominant 6-1 victory. Marchand was at the top of his game and so were his teammates.
Taking down Toronto was no easy task, but now the Panthers have a ton of confidence leading up to this massive series with Carolina. Should Florida move on to the Stanley Cup Finals, we're anticipating a showdown with Edmonton with the glory on the line.
Marchand and his teammates have their eyes on the prize and while they're excited about potentially pushing for the title, the Panthers are staying focused on Carolina at this time before looking too ahead of things. For now, the Panthers are our pick to win it all. It will be interesting to see if that ends up happening or not. Only time will tell if they take home the trophy.
