The excitement of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs reaches its peak, with only four teams competing for the coveted title. The Carolina Hurricanes, the Dallas Stars, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Florida Panthers face off in series that promise to be memorable.
For the Stars and Oilers, this is a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Finals. The Hurricanes and Panthers revive their 2023 Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
Expert Predictions
We analyze the experts’ predictions for each series, seeking to anticipate who will advance to the Stanley Cup final.
Eastern Conference Finals
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
- Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven
- John Buccigross: Panthers in seven
- Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six
- Sachin Chandan: Hurricanes in five
- Meghan Chayka: Hurricanes in seven
- Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven
- Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven
- Rachel Doerrie: Panthers in six
- Ray Ferraro: Panthers in six
- Emily Kaplan: Panthers in seven
- Tim Kavanagh: Hurricanes in six
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Panthers in seven
- Steve Levy: Panthers in six
- Vince Masi: Hurricanes in seven
- Victoria Matiash: Panthers in six
- Sean McDonough: Panthers in six
- Mike Monaco: Hurricanes in seven
- Kristen Shilton: Panthers in six
- John Thoering: Panthers in six
- Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven
- Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six
Majority Prediction: Panthers (16 of 21 predictions)
Western Conference Finals
Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers
- Blake Bolden: Stars in seven
- John Buccigross: Oilers in seven
- Ryan Callahan: Stars in six
- Sachin Chandan: Stars in seven
- Meghan Chayka: Oilers in six
- Ryan S. Clark: Oilers in six
- Linda Cohn: Stars in seven
- Rachel Doerrie: Stars in seven
- Ray Ferraro: Stars in seven
- Emily Kaplan: Stars in seven
- Tim Kavanagh: Stars in seven
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Stars in six
- Steve Levy: Stars in seven
- Vince Masi: Oilers in six
- Victoria Matiash: Stars in seven
- Sean McDonough: Stars in seven
- Mike Monaco: Oilers in six
- Kristen Shilton: Stars in six
- John Thoering: Stars in seven
- Bob Wischusen: Stars in seven
- Greg Wyshynski: Stars in seven
Majority Prediction: Stars (16 of 21 predictions)
