The 2025 Stanley Cup final start date is still undecided as of now as the Florida Panthers have become the first side to secure a spot in the final. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, it all depends on the outcome of Game 5 between Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars.
What did Elliotte Friedman say about the start date on 2025 Stanley Cup final?
The NHL insider Elloitte Freidman shared the details of the 2025 Stanley Cup finals on his X account (formerly known as Twitter).
If Edmonton wins tomorrow, Stanley Cup Final starts June 4. If Dallas wins tomorrow, Stanley Cup Final starts June 7.
The Florida Panthers were able to defeat Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the Eastern Conference final. During Game 5, the Panthers were behind 2-0 but by the end of the match, they changed the complexion of the game by winning it 5-3. The seven game series was finally won by the Panthers 4-1. This will be their third consecutive Stanley Cup final appearance.
Before this, the Florida Panthers got the better off Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 in the first round before knocking out Toronto Maple Leafs by winning Game 7 6-1. In the Eastern Conference finals, Panthers defeated Hurricanes in five games.
Sergei Bobrovsky, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett have been key players for the Panthers this season. Captain Barkov leads the charge with 15 points as Bennett and Tkachuk are behind him with 14 points each. The Florida Panthers have great depth in the lineup as 18 players have scored in the postseason. Their goaltending and defense has been super solid this year.
On the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers are leading the Western Conference final series 3-1 and if they win Game 5, then they will progress to the finals. If they are able to secure a spot in the finals, then it would be a rematch of the last season.
In 2024, the Panthers defeated the Oilers in the seven game series to lift the Stanley Cup. During Game 7, it was Sam Reinhart who scored the game winning goal as the Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup for the first time in their franchise history.
Wayne Gretzky thinks Oilers have an edge over Panthers
The Florida Panthers will be ready to defend their title. They have been reaching the finals for three consecutive seasons now. Another win in the finals would prove their dominance and how strong yet confident they have become over the past years.
However, the legendary Wayne Gretzky thinks the other way around as he feels that Oilers have an edge over the Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals series.
I’d be hard-pressed to think it won't be a rematch in Florida-Edmonton, Gretzky said on the New Heights Podcast on Wednesday. The difference is this year, Edmonton has home-ice advantage, which in the playoffs, makes a big difference.
All eyes would be on Game 5 featuring Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars. If Edmonton wins Game 5, then they automatically secure a spot in the finals and the Stanley Cup would start earlier. If not, then the fans might have to wait for a little longer.