After a full regular season by 32 NHL teams and three rounds of the playoffs, including a couple of scares, the 2025 Stanley Cup Final is the same as last year’s.
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Thursday to set up a rematch with the Florida Panthers, who clinched a third consecutive berth on Wednesday. The Panthers won in seven games last year.
The Oilers jumped to a quick 2-0 lead on goals by Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark, leading Stars coach Peter DeBoer to pull Jake Oettinger for backup goalie Casey DeSmith. Veteran Jeff Skinner, making his second playoff appearance, made it 3-0.
After that, the Stars settled down, with Jason Robertson scoring twice in the game. But Edmonton countered every time Dallas pulled close. Connor McDavid got a key breakaway goal in the second period after Roope Hintz cut the lead to 3-2.
‘That’s one of the nicest goals I’ve seen him score,’ teammate Leon Draisaitl said of McDavid. ‘That’s a big-time play. There’s only one person in the world that can do that in that moment, and we’re very fortunate to have him on our side.’
Evander Kane scored in the third period after Robertson pulled Dallas within one again.
The Oilers have reached the final after losing the first two games of the first round and trailing in the third period of Game 3. But they beat the Los Angeles Kings in six games, the Vegas Golden Knights in five games and the Stars in five.
Florida knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes. They had fallen behind 2-0 to the Maple Leafs before winning in seven games.
Florida will try to become the first NHL team to win back-to-back championships since the 2020 and 2021 Lightning, while the Oilers will try to become the first Canadian team to win since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.
USA TODAY provided live updates from Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Scroll below for highlights and a full recap:
Oilers vs. Stars highlights
What’s next for the Edmonton Oilers?
The Oilers get another chance against the Panthers as they try to win their first title since 1990. They forced a Game 7 last season after losing the first three games before losing in the decisive game.
‘It was a great learning experience and it’s really driven us all year,’ McDavid said.
He said this year’s run has felt more normal.
‘It hasn’t been as emotional,’ he said. ‘We haven’t had the highs and we haven’t had the lows, just kind of been steady, and I think that has put us in a good position. … We have as good as chances are they do.’
What’s next for the Dallas Stars?
They rebounded from a season-ending seven-game losing streak to win two round before fall in the conference final for the third year in a row. They made their big move near the trade deadline by acquiring Mikko Rantanen and signing him for eight years. But their list of unrestricted free agents is huge, including captain Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund, Colin Blackwell and Cody Ceci.
Why Peter DeBoer pulled Jake Oettinger
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger got a quick hook after Edmonton took a 2-0 lead. Coach Peter DeBoer said he didn’t blame Oettinger fully for the goals but explained his reasoning for putting in backup Casey DeSmith early in the first period.
‘The reality is if you go back to last year’s playoffs, he’s lost six of seven games to Edmonton and we gave up two goals on two shots in an elimination game,’ DeBoer said after the game. ‘It was partly to spark our team and wake them up and partly knowing that status quo had not been working. That’s a pretty big sample size.’
Did the Oilers touch the Clarence Campbell Bowl?
Yes, Oilers captain Connor McDavid and others touched the Western Conference championship trophy. Last year, the team didn’t touch it (it’s considered bad luck because the Stanley Cup is the true goal) and lost. Of course, the Panthers didn’t touch the Eastern Conference’s Prince of Wales Trophy last year and won. Florida didn’t touch it this year.
Game recap
Final score: Oilers 6, Stars 3
Edmonton is making its second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final and will face the Panthers again. The Oilers have home-ice advantage this time.
Score update: Oilers 6, Stars 3
Kasperi Kapanen gets an empty-netter.
Stars pull goalie
Extra skater out there for Dallas.
Score update: Oilers 5, Stars 3
Edmonton strikes back quickly again. Evander Kane gets a bounce off Stars defenseman Esa Lindell.
Score update: Oilers 4, Stars 3
Jason Robertson scores his second goal of the game 38 seconds into the period to pull Dallas within one. Not a good allowed by Stuart Skinner and fans start chanting his name.
Third period underway
Oilers 20 minutes away from another trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
End second: Oilers 4, Stars 2
The Stars go nearly 10 minutes without a shot then get a Roope Hintz power-play goal. Oilers captain Connor McDavid does what he does best, showing off his tremendous speed to get a breakaway goal a little more than two minutes later and give Edmonton some breathing room.
Score update: Oilers 4, Stars 2
Connor McDavid restores Edmonton’s two-goal lead with a breakaway goal. Mattias Ekholm picks up the assist in his first game since April 11.
Score update: Oilers 3, Stars 2
The Stars move the puck around well on the power play and Roope Hintz scores for his first goal of the series. Another assist for Wyatt Johnston.
Stars power play
Mavrik Bourque, who has played well since his early high-sticking penalty, is hauled down by Mattias Ekholm.
Oilers defensive effort
Stars get first shot of the second period about 10 minutes in.
Stars power play
Brett Kulak, whose turnover led to Dallas’ goal, is called for hooking. Edmonton blocks several shots and kills it off.
Second period underway
3-1 Edmonton.
End first: Oilers 3, Stars 1
The Oilers take advantage of sloppy defensive play by the Stars and get two goals (Corey Perry, Mattias Janmark) on two shots. That leads coach Peter DeBoer to pull goalie Jake Oettinger. Backup Casey DeSmith gives up a quick goal to Jeff Skinner. But Dallas gets one back by Jason Robertson and will try to regroup after the intermission. The Stars will have to avoid the careless penalties. Shots are 9-7 Edmonton.
Oilers power play
Another high-sticking call. This time to Sam Steel. Dallas gets a needed kill. Stars have the best chance while short-handed but Stuart Skinner stops Thomas Harley.
Score update: Oilers 3, Stars 1
Jason Robertson scores after a turnover by Edmonton’s Brett Kulak. Wyatt Johnston gets the assist.
Score update: Oilers 3, Stars 0
Goalie change doesn’t work. Jeff Skinner scores at 8:07 in just his second game of the playoffs. Rout is on. Edmonton has three goals on six shots.
Stars goalie change
Casey DeSmith comes in for Jake Oettinger.
Score update: Oilers 2, Stars 0
Mattias Janmark scores at 7:09. Dallas calls a timeout.
Score update: Oilers 1, Stars 0
Connor McDavid feeds Corey Perry in front on the power play at 2:31. Bad start for the Stars. That’s 100 career playoff assists for McDavid.
Oilers power play
Mavrik Bourque called for high-sticking 1:47 in.
Game underway
Stars’ Colin Blackwell lines vs. Oilers’ Mattias Janmark line.
What time is Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 5?
Game 5 of the Stars-Oilers series is Thursday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET in Dallas.
How to watch Stars vs. Oilers NHL playoff game: TV, stream
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. local
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+, Fubo
Edmonton Oilers lines
Troy Stecher is sitting out with Mattias Ekholm returning. Connor Brown will miss a second consecutive game.
Dallas Stars lines
Mavrik Bourque making his first appearance since the first round.
Goaltending matchup
Stars’ Jake Oettinger (9-8, 2.72 goals-against average, .908 save percentage) vs. Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (5-4, 2.47, .910)
Oilers’ Jeff Skinner returning to lineup
Because of the injury to Zach Hyman, Oilers forward Jeff Skinner will make his first appearance since Game 1 of the first round.
‘The guys have been playing really well, battling really hard,’ he told reporters. ‘I’ll just try to come in and read off those guys and try to keep it simple and try to contribute.’
Zach Hyman out after surgery
This will be the Oilers’ first full game without forward Zach Hyman, who was injured in Game 4 on a Mason Marchment check. He had surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the playoffs.
Hyman scored 70 goals last season between the regular season and the playoffs. This season, he has 11 points in 15 playoff games and a league-leading 111 hits in the postseason, nearly 30 more than the next player.
‘He’s not going to be replaced but hopefully everyone can step up a little bit, a few more hits from everyone else throughout the lineup,’ Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. ‘Hopefully somebody is going to come up with an important goal.”
Mattias Ekholm injury update
Veteran Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm will return from an injury for Game 5. He last played on April 11.
Ekholm, 34, had 33 points in 65 games this season while averaging 22 minutes a game.
‘For him to come back and feeling great, it’s a great addition to our team,’ said Knoblauch, who expects to go with 12 forwards and six defensemen in the game.
Western Conference final schedule
Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Stars 6, Oilers 3
Game 2: Oilers 3, Stars 0
Game 3: Oilers 6, Stars 1
Game 4: Oilers 4, Stars 1
Game 5: Thursday, May 29, Edmonton at Dallas, 8, ESPN
x-Game 6: Saturday, May 31, Dallas at Edmonton, 8, ABC
x-Game 7: Monday, June 2, Edmonton at Dallas, 8, ESPN
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