With the Florida Panthers` Game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the lineups for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals are now confirmed. Over the next fortnight, four elite teams will compete for the chance to play for hockey`s ultimate prize this postseason.
In the Eastern Conference, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers continue to demonstrate their status as the benchmark for postseason success. After recovering from a 0-2 series deficit against the Maple Leafs, Florida is set to face the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes advanced by eliminating the Washington Capitals in five games during the second round.
Meanwhile, the Western Conference Final pits the Dallas Stars against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are aiming for a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final after being defeated by Florida in 2024. The Stars, on the other hand, are making their third consecutive appearance in the Western Conference Final, having outlasted the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets in the second round.
As the Eastern and Western Conference Finals are about to get underway, here are expert forecasts for the winners of each series.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes
Bengel: The defending champion Panthers proved their formidable postseason capabilities by overcoming a 0-2 hole against Toronto. Florida`s forward depth has been a key strength in recent years, and the trade deadline acquisition of Brad Marchand has significantly paid off in the playoffs. Marchand leads the team with 12 points this postseason, contributing crucial goals and assists against the Maple Leafs, including an overtime winner. Furthermore, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was exceptional over the final four games of that series, allowing only four total goals and posting a .956 save percentage on unblocked shots, according to MoneyPuck. The combination of deep offensive talent and stellar goaltending will be the deciding factor. While the Hurricanes possess elite defensive capabilities, the Panthers` overall strength appears too much for them over a full series.
Prediction: Panthers defeat Hurricanes 4-1
Nivison: Following the Panthers` dominant Game 7 win against the Maple Leafs, we have a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. The key question is whether the outcome will differ from that previous matchup, which Florida swept. The Hurricanes have navigated the first two rounds relatively smoothly, but the reigning champions represent a much tougher challenge.
Carolina boasts an 8-2 record in these playoffs with a plus-16 goal differential. Their ability to control play at five-on-five remains strong, with impressive production from Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho. Additionally, Frederik Andersen has been among the top goaltenders this postseason, suggesting Carolina is better equipped to challenge Florida this time. However, the difficulty for the Hurricanes lies in the fact that the Panthers are capable of performing everything Carolina does, often at a higher level.
Florida has demonstrated even better five-on-five performance than Carolina in these playoffs, despite facing tougher opposition. The Panthers feature three forward lines capable of generating offense, their team defense is outstanding, and Sergei Bobrovsky elevated his play significantly in the latter part of the Toronto series. Simply put, the Panthers are a cut above the Hurricanes in nearly every aspect. Carolina is likely to avoid a sweep this time, but Florida is still favored to reach their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Prediction: Panthers defeat Hurricanes 4-2
Stars vs. Oilers
Bengel: The Western Conference Final matchup between the Oilers and Stars is exceptionally balanced. Both teams are battle-tested from their previous series and have recent experience in the conference final stage.
The Stars faced a significant challenge against the Jets but ultimately rose to the occasion to win the series. Similar to the Panthers in the East, Dallas possesses tremendous offensive depth. Their center group, featuring Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, and even Sam Steel on the fourth line, is arguably one of the best. Dallas also received a major boost with defenseman Miro Heiskanen`s return from injury in the second round, strengthening their defense. This series is expected to be heavily influenced by star power. Edmonton relies on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, while Dallas counters with Mikko Rantanen, who leads the postseason with 19 points. It will be interesting to observe how frequently Stars coach Pete DeBoer chooses to double-shift Rantanen, a strategy he employed often against the Jets.
The difference between these two teams is minimal, but I give the edge to the Stars due to their advantage in goaltending. Jake Oettinger was sensational against Winnipeg, whereas I anticipate Calvin Pickard may eventually face challenges in what could be a lengthy series.
Prediction: Stars defeat Oilers 4-3
Nivison: In perhaps the most impressive performance of the playoffs so far, the Oilers efficiently dispatched the Golden Knights in the second round. While McDavid and Draisaitl led with three points each, critical contributions also came from supporting players like Corey Perry, Evander Kane, and Adam Henrique, who combined for seven goals. Goaltender Stuart Skinner made all the saves he was expected to. This level of support is exactly what McDavid and Draisaitl need for the Oilers to perform at their peak.
On the other side, the Stars are making their third straight conference final appearance and are arguably better built for this moment than ever before. Their depth, already strong in previous seasons, is now exceptional. Mikko Rantanen, a physically imposing player well-suited for the playoffs, leads the league in goals (9) and points (19). Mikael Granlund has provided significant scoring depth further down the lineup. If Jason Robertson`s production increases after returning from injury, Dallas`s offense could become incredibly difficult to contain.
The potential return of Mattias Ekholm to the Oilers` defense at some point in the series would greatly aid in slowing down Dallas`s offense, but his status for the early games is uncertain. More importantly, Dallas holds a significant advantage in goaltending with Jake Oettinger facing Stuart Skinner. Given this, I favor the Stars` combination of depth and star power (“quantity and quality”) over the Oilers` more top-heavy roster construction.
Prediction: Stars defeat Oilers 4-2
Elton Marrow 
Torin Vale