The 2025 NHL Western Conference Final features a compelling rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars, set to commence tonight at 8:00 PM ET at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. This marks the second consecutive year these teams meet at this stage, with the Oilers having triumphed in six games during the 2024 series.

The Oilers’ offense has been formidable throughout this years playoffs. Leon Draisaitl leads all postseason scorers with 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists), closely followed by Connor McDavid with 21 points.

Defenseman Evan Bouchard has also contributed significantly with 20 points. Notably, the Oilers boast the league’s top power play (37.5%) and penalty kill (91.4%) in the postseason, underscoring their special teams’ dominance.

Meanwhile, the Stars counter with a balanced and deep roster. Miro Heiskanen leads the team with 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in the playoffs, while goaltender Jake Oettinger has been stellar, posting a 2.09 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

Dallas’s defense has effectively limited high-danger chances, allowing just 8.94 per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 play.

Series Outlook: 

Goalie – Dallas holds a clear edge with Oettinger’s consistent performance, compared to Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner, who has a .881 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average. Oettinger has been amazing in several games during the 2025 post season.

When it comes to depth off the bench, Dallas’s offensive contributions come from across the lineup, with 16 different skaters scoring at least one goal in the playoffs, highlighting the Stars depth on the ice.

Edmonton’s exceptional power play and penalty kill units could be decisive factors, especially against Dallas’s struggling penalty kill, which operates at just 69.2% in the playoffs. It has been the greatest weakness for a Dallas team that has not struggled doing much else.

This series promises to be a thrilling contest between Edmonton’s high-powered offense and Dallas’s balanced, defensive-minded approach. The outcome may hinge on goaltending performances and special teams efficiency.

If we predict the series by those two things it will come out a tie. Defense is better for Dallas and special team efficiency is better for Edmonton. If you are a hockey fan this will be a great series to take in, even if you are not particularly a fan of either team.

If I had to choose today, I believe that Dallas has a slightly better team and will advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in the past 3 seasons.