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Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Florida Panthers The Edmonton Oilers will be held on Thursday at 8pm at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.
It’s the second consecutive season Oilers The Panthers were matched in the Stanley Cup final. Last season, the Panthers won the first championship in franchise history.
The Panthers won that series in seven games, but they were building one of the biggest collapses in the history of sports.
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Florida Panthers Center Alexander Barkov speaks with Edmonton Oilers Center Conor McDavid at the end of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Florida on June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The Panthers rose 3-0, but the Oilers won three times in a row, forcing Game 7.
Despite the loss, Oilers’ superstar Conner McDavid was awarded Conn Smythe Trophyaward given to the most valuable player of his team in the playoffs.
It was the sixth time in NHL history that a player on a losing team has been awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Panthers Oiler Stanley Cup Final This is the 12th NHL history of the rematch that two teams have met in the finals of consecutive seasons. The last time it happened was when the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings performed in 2008 and 2009.
Red wings He won in 2008, and the Penguin won in 2009.
The Panthers have since hoped to be the first team to defeat the same opponent in consecutive Stanley Cup finals Montreal Canadian He defeated the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978.
Below is a preview of this year’s matchup between the two great powers.

Edmonton star Conor McDavid is on display with NHL vice committee member Bill Daly as he holds the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gulio Cortez)
How they came here
Panthers
The Panthers finished third in the Atlantic division with 98 points. Toronto Maple Leafs The Tampa Bay Lightning came in second with 102 points, but finished in the division with 108 points.
In the playoffs, the Panthers bouncing off both of these teams. In the first round they were defeated lightning In five games: Battle of Florida.
The Panthers were behind the Maple Leaf 2-0 in the series, so they won four of the four of the next five games and beat Toronto in seven games, so the second round wasn’t that easy.
The Panthers ruled in the Eastern Conference Finals Carolina Hurricane. They took a 3-0 series lead with a total score of 16-4 in favor of the Panthers in those games.
The Hurricanes avoided being wiped out with a Game 4 victory, but the Panthers won Game 5, 5-3 to advance to the third straight Stanley Cup final.
Euler
The Oilers finished third in the Pacific division with 101 points. Vegas Golden Knights The Los Angeles Kings were second with 105 points, but they won the division with 110 points.
The Oilers, like the Panthers, knocked out both teams who finished in front of them in the division from the playoffs.
In the first round, the Oilers sent the King in six games. In the second round, he defeated the Golden Knights in five games.
The Oilers defeated the Western Conference Finals Dallas Star Five games eliminated them in the conference finals for the second consecutive season.

Florida Panthers Center Alexander Barkov, left, and NHL vice-chairman Billdaly will pose with the Prince of Wales Trophy at the end of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Key contributors for each team
Panthers
The Panthers acquired production from most of their roster while playing in the Stanley Cup final. Because 10 players scored at least 10 points in the team’s 17 playoff games.
Center Sam Bennett led the team with 10 goals, while Alexander Barkov and Carter Werhege rank second in the team with six goals.
Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are tied to a team lead with 11 assists each, while trade deadline acquisitions Brad Marchand and Evan Rodrigues are second in the team with 10 assists.
Barkov leads the team with 17 points.
Goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky began all 17 games in the playoffs, sparkling, going 12-5, allowing 2.11 goals per game with a save percentage of .912%.
Euler
The Oilers don’t get as much production as the Panthers in their lineup as they do, but the best players in the sport have two of the best.
Edmonton has seven players who scored at least 10 points in the playoffs compared to the 10 players for the Panthers.
Throughout his career, McDavid rose the game in the playoffs. These playoffs were no exception.
In 16 games, McDavid has 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists) and Leon Draisaitl has 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists).
Draysightle and 40-year-old Corey Perry are tied to the team’s lead with seven goals in the Edmonton playoffs.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists) and defensive man Evan Bouchard scored right behind him with 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) and third in the team.
Unlike the Panthers, the Oilers don’t play consistent goaltenders. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Picard began the game in the Edmonton playoffs.
Skinner is 6-4 in 10 games, with an average of 2.53 goals and a save percentage of 0.904, while Picard is 6-0, 6-0 with an average of 2.84 goals and a save percentage of 0.888.
The Oilers turned their eyes to Skinner in the Stars of the series.
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Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry celebrates with Center Conor McDavid after scoring in the first period of the Western Conference Finals held in Dallas on May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Gales Patterson)
What the stars say
McDavid said the Oilers’ final defeat in the crushing Stanley Cup served as a “learning experience” for the team.
“I think we should have experienced last year. It’s a great learning experience and drives us all year round,” McDavid said the Oilers closed the title of their second Western Conference in a row. “I felt this run was different from last year. It felt very normal. …I don’t want to be bored because it wasn’t boring. It wasn’t that emotional.”
“We didn’t have highs and we don’t have lows. It’s kind of stable,” McDavid said. “I think it puts us in a good position. You know those games can be emotionally drained. We’re not drained. …You know, we have as good a chance as they are.”
Oilers head coach Chris Noblauch said the team has been preparing for the playoff run since Game 7 loss last season.
“I think we spent seven months preparing for this playoff run, and I think it’s been in our minds since we lost that last game,” Knoblauch said. “The long, tough summers and training camp, the regular season, and it was punching our cards, showing up, hoping for the playoffs, just having another opportunity.”
Dry Sightle said he hopes he’ll have a chance to revenge.
“I mean, we know what they are. We played them seven times. They’re a good team,” Draysightle said. “We’re a really good team too. Obviously, filming revenge is great, but it’s a long way from then on.”
The Panthers are hoping that the Stanley Cup final will be a battle again.
“It’s going to be an incredible fight again,” said Sam Reinhart, ahead of the Panthers. nhl.com. “They obviously play pretty dominant hockey, so we’re excited about the challenge. We have to prepare for it.”
“They’re really a good team,” Verhaeghe said via NHL.com. “They’ve been to the finals, they’re definitely a hungry team. It’s not easy to go the last two straight times, so they want to make it bad.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said the Oilers are good at what’s going on.
“I think both teams are still pretty consistent with their identity and playing style. They are now a year ahead of their program. They didn’t reach three years ago.
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Florida Panthers Center Anton Landell (15) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals held in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Injury report
Panthers
The three forwards did not practice with the team on Saturday. Anton Randell and Azi Grier did not skate, and Etu Luostalinen skated himself.
Maurice said the “only question mark” was Greer. nhl.com. Maurice said the team will list him as a daily routine.
According to Maurice, Lundell and Luostarinen are “fine” and should be in the Game 1 lineup.
Euler
The Oilers are mostly healthy as both Matthias Ekholm and Connor Brown returned during the Western Conference Finals.
However, the team may not forward Zach Heyman during the Stanley Cup final. Hyman was injured in a collision with the star in Game 4 and undergoes surgery for damage to his upper body.
Highman’s absence was a big deal, as the forward had five goals and six assists in 15 playoff games.
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Edmonton Oilers Center Conor McDavid will win against the stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals held in Dallas on May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Gulio Cortez)
Game time and date
Last year, the Panthers retained their home ice advantage, but this time there is a house ice around the Oilers.
Below is the time and date for the series (*indicates whether the game is required or not).
Game 1 – Wednesday, June 4th at 8pm, ET, Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game 2 – Friday, June 6th at 8pm, ET, Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game 3 – Monday, June 9th, 8pm, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Game 4 – Thursday, June 12th at 8pm, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Game 5* – Saturday, June 14th at 8pm, ET, Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game 6* – Tuesday, June 17th, 8pm, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Game 7* – Friday, June 20th at 8pm, ET, Rogers Place, Edmonton
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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