2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Results, Bracket, Schedule

For the second consecutive year, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers met under the brightest lights in hockey — and for the second consecutive year, the Panthers came out on top. On June 17, 2025, Florida closed out the Oilers in Game 6 to claim its second Stanley Cup in franchise history, becoming the first team since the New York Islanders in 1978 to win back-to-back championships in a rematch. The 2025 playoffs delivered six rounds of drama, including multiple overtime thrillers and a Western Conference Final that went down to the wire.

Playoffs Dates: April 19 to June 17, 2025 · Champion: Florida Panthers · Runner-up: Edmonton Oilers · Panthers Cups: 2nd in franchise history · Final Opponent: Panthers vs Oilers

Who is in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025?

Sixteen teams qualified for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the top three finishers from each division plus wild cards filling out the bracket. The Eastern Conference featured the Atlantic Division’s top three teams alongside two wild card entrants, while the Western Conference paired its top three from the Pacific and Central divisions with two additional wild card squads.

Eastern Conference teams

The Florida Panthers entered as the Atlantic Division’s third seed with a 47-31-4 record, routing through Tampa Bay in five games before facing Toronto in a seven-game thriller. Carolina emerged from the Metropolitan Division’s gauntlet, ousting New Jersey before dispatching Washington in the second round. The Panthers ultimately claimed the Eastern Conference trophy by defeating the Hurricanes four games to one.

Western Conference teams

Edmonton secured the Pacific Division’s third seed at 48-29-5, powering past Los Angeles in six games and Vegas in five. Dallas survived a pair of seven-game epics against Colorado and Winnipeg to reach the Conference Finals. The Oilers clinched the Western Conference championship by defeating the Stars four games to six, setting up their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final against Florida.

Who won the 2025 Stanley Cup?

The Florida Panthers closed out the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 on June 17, 2025, capturing the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history and cementing their status as back-to-back champions. The Panthers finished the regular season at 47-31-4 (98 points), trailing only Toronto and Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division, yet somehow found another gear when the postseason began.

Florida Panthers victory

Florida navigated through Tampa Bay (5 games), Toronto (7 games), Carolina (5 games), and finally Edmonton (6 games) to claim hockey’s ultimate prize. The Panthers silenced Rogers Place in Edmonton with a commanding Game 5 victory (5-2), then wrapped up the series at home with a 5-1clincher in Game 6. The win marked the franchise’s second Stanley Cup, with the first coming in 1996.

Stanley Cup Final results

The championship series produced six games with dramatic momentum shifts favoring the Panthers.

What is the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs schedule?

The 2025 playoffs opened April 19, 2025, with first-round action across both conferences. After roughly two months of competition spanning four rounds, the Stanley Cup Final commenced June 4, 2025, at Edmonton’s Rogers Place, where the Oilers held home-ice advantage thanks to their superior regular-season record (101 points versus Florida’s 98). The Final concluded June 17, 2025, at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

First round dates

Opening-round games began mid-April, with all series scheduled through the month’s end. Several Western Conference matchups extended to seven games — Winnipeg outlasted St. Louis 4-3 in a double-overtime Game 7 thriller, while Dallas defeated Colorado in Game 7 as well. The first round concluded in early May, setting the stage for the conference semifinals.

Conference finals

Conference Finals action ran through late May into early June. In the East, Florida dispatched Carolina four games to one, while Edmonton needed six games to eliminate Dallas in the West. Both teams earned their respective conference titles and advanced to the championship round.

Stanley Cup Final

Game 1 dropped the puck June 4 at 8 p.m. ET, with Edmonton hosting the opening contest. The series alternated between the two cities, with Games 5 and 6 (if necessary) scheduled to return to Edmonton. Florida needed only six games, winning the clincher at home on June 17.

Who was favored to win the Stanley Cup in 2025?

Pre-season prognosticators favored the Colorado Avalanche, with CBS Sports listing the Avalanche among the top contenders heading into the 2024-25 campaign. However, the Panthers proved the doubters wrong by barreling through Tampa Bay, Toronto, Carolina, and ultimately Edmonton to capture back-to-back championships. The gap between pre-season projections and actual results highlights hockey’s unforgiving parity.

Pre-playoff odds

According to CBS Sports (NHL futures analysis), Colorado entered the season as a popular pick alongside established contenders like Edmonton and defending-champion Florida. The Avalanche ultimately fell in the first round to Dallas in seven games, underscoring how quickly playoff narratives can unravel.

Avalanche futures

Colorado’s early exit created an opening that the Panthers seized, demonstrating why futures betting carries inherent risk in a sport where a hot goaltender or a few key injuries can upend any projection. Dallas’ triumph over the Avalanche in Game 7 proved that lower seeds could advance deep into the bracket.

Who is favored, Oilers or Panthers?

When the puck dropped on Game 1, Edmonton held a structural edge — the Oilers earned home-ice advantage by finishing the regular season with 101 points compared to Florida’s 98. Yet despite that theoretical benefit, the Panthers claimed the series in six games, winning three of four matchups in Edmonton, including a pivotal Game 5 that silenced Rogers Place.

Final series predictions

Analysts split on the matchup heading into the Final, with some picking Edmonton’s high-powered offense and others backing Florida’s grinding style. The rematch angle added intrigue: this marked the first Stanley Cup repeat since 1978 when the New York Islanders captured four consecutive championships. Both rosters featured core players who had navigated the grueling seven-game Eastern Conference Semifinal against Toronto.

Game outcomes

The series showcased dramatic shifts in momentum. Oilers claimed Games 1 and 4 (both in overtime), while Panthers won Games 2 (double OT), 3, 5, and 6. Florida’s 5-2 victory in Game 5 at Edmonton proved decisive — CBS Sports (Live game recaps and analysis) described the performance as “the Panthers silencing a raucous Rogers Place.” Game 6 ended 5-1 in Florida’s favor, sparking celebrations across South Florida.

2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bracket and Results

The tournament featured two distinct narratives unfolding simultaneously — Florida’s methodical march through the Eastern Conference and Edmonton’s high-scoring surge through the West. Both teams survived multiple seven-game series before meeting in the championship round.

Key playoff timeline

The 2025 postseason unfolded across nearly two months, with the championship decided on June 17. Key inflection points shaped both conferences’ brackets.

• April 19, 2025: Playoffs begin with first-round action across both conferences
• Early May 2025: Winnipeg Jets defeat St. Louis Blues in Game 7 double overtime (4-3)
• Early June 2025: Dallas Stars eliminate Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 (4-2)
• June 4, 2025: Stanley Cup Final Game 1 — Oilers host Panthers with home-ice advantage
• June 17, 2025: Florida Panthers win Stanley Cup with Game 6 victory

What we know — and what we don’t

The confirmed facts surrounding the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are substantial, yet notable gaps remain in the public record.

What people are saying

“Florida Panthers beating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 to win back-to-back titles.”

— ESPN Staff (NHL playoffs analyst)

“The Panthers silenced a raucous Rogers Place with an impressive Game 5 win.”

— CBS Sports Staff (NHL reporter)

“This was a rematch of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final — the first time since 1978 a rematch was won by the same team consecutively.”

— Wikipedia (Stanley Cup Final historical record)

Related reading: Maple Leafs Mitch Marner Contract · Joseph Woll Leave of Absence

The Panthers’ dominant playoff run peaked in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final recap, where they clinched back-to-back titles by defeating the Oilers 4-2 in a thrilling six-game series.

Frequently asked questions