Western Conference Final Preview — Oilers vs. Stars Set for a Heavyweight Clash

As expected, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have delivered a thrilling road to the Western Conference Final. Now it all comes down to the 2 best teams in the conference — the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars. Both squads have been tested through some seriouesly intense rounds, knocking off strong opponents to get here.

The Oilers took out the Kings and Golden Knights with their relentless speed and firepower while Dallas survived battles with Colorado and Winnipeg thanks to their depth and reliable goaltending.

To us, this series feels like a clash of strengths and styles and it might go either way, but only one team can move onto the Stanley Cup Finals to take on either the Hurricanes or Panthers. Edmonton thrives on elite offensive talent, while Dallas leans into structure, depth, and stability in the net.

With both teams peaking at the right time, let’s see which squad has the edge heading into this heavyweight showdown.

Offense — Edmonton’s Firepower vs. Dallas’ Balanced Attack

Let’s start with the obvious. Edmonton has Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That alone makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

McDavid, probably the best hockey player in the world, leads the team in playoff points with 17 in 11 games. This includes a whopping 14 assists. Draisaitl is right behind him with 16 points and leads the team in goals with 5. Behind them, Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman have all chipped in with 8+ points each which just goes to show that the scoring depth isn’t just top-heavy. They’ll need all of the support they can against the Stars.

Edmonton as a team is averaging 3.91 GF/G in the playoffs, 2nd only to the eliminated Los Angeles Kings. They’ve racked up 116 total points in 11 games and have a power play unit that is clicking at an insane 25%. That’s a tough achievement no matter what team you’re up against.

Dallas doesn’t have quite the same flash, but they’ve got consistency across all 4 lines, and depth always goes a long way. Mikko Rantanen has stepped up in a big way with a whopping 19 points in his 13 games which includes 9 goals and 10 assists. Thomas Harley, on the blue line, is 2nd on the team in scoring with 11 points. This just speaks to how much the Stars rely on everyone to contribute. Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene have chipped in with 10 points apiece.

The Stars are scoring 2.62 GF/G which is good for 11th out of 16 playoff teams. That number is fine, but it’s to no surprise that Edmonton has the clear offensive advantage. They shoot more with 360 shots to Dallas’ 323, move the puck better, and have game-breaking stars who can tilt the ice every shift.

• Edge: Edmonton

Defense and Goaltending — Dallas’ Structure Holding Strong

This is where the Stars shine.

Jake Oettinger might not win the Vicenza Trophy, but he has been rock solid all postseason long. In 13 games, he’s posted a 2.47 GAA and a .919 SV%. That’s a premium performance from a netminder who’s often at his best when the pressure’s on.

Dallas has allowed just 2.92 GA/A, thanks in large part to Oettinger and a blue line that doesn’t get enough love. Guys like Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, and Esa Lindell have all played fairly heavy minutes and kept things steady between transitions and blocks.

Dallas’ penalty kill unit is running at 86% which is good for 3rd best among the remaining teams. This will be a key factor when facing Edmonton’s dominant power play. They’ve also managed to stay somewhat disciplined, racking up just 140 penalty minutes over 13 games, though they could’ve been better during that stretch.

Edmonton’s goaltending situation has been a bit more chaotic. Stuart Skinner started the playoffs but was shaky. He’s gone 2-3 with a .884 sSV%. Calvin Pickard stepped in and has been slightly better over this stretch, going 6-0 with a .888 SV% and 2.84 GAA. Still, neither goalie has looked like a long-term solution. That kind of inconsistency could bite them against a team like Dallas that loves to capitalize on mistakes.

The Oilers are allowing 3.09 GA/G this postseason and they rank 9th out of the 16 playoff teams in that category, and their team save percentage is a low .886 which is far behind Dallas at .919. It’s easy to see what team has the edge here.

• Edge: Dallas

Special Teams — Power vs. Penalty Kill

Both teams have their strengths here and these will make this probably the best series of the playoffs so far.

Edmonton’s power play, while not historically dominant like last year, is still one of the most feared in the league. With McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard running the top PP unit, they’re converting at 25%. That is enough to keep any penalty kill on edge. The Stars are converting at a slightly better 30.8%, though they’ve had fewer opportunities which could skew the numbers a bit.

Where Dallas really gains an edge is on the penalty kill. They’ve killed off 86% of penalties, while Edmonton’s kill sits at just 66.7%. That’s a huge gap that we simply cannot overlook.

In a tight series where special teams could swing games, Dallas’ ability to shut down the man advantage could be the difference. If the Oilers aren’t disciplined, you can bet that the Stars will make them pay.

• Edge: Dallas

Intangibles — Experience, Matchups, and Momentum

Both teams have been through playoff wars in the past. Edmonton made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 while Dallas was eliminated in Round 2 in 2025. So neither side is new to this stage.

That said, the Oilers look sharper mentally this time around. Their second-round series against Vegas was their best all-around stretch of hockey in years. They were well-structured, confident, and had timely goals. Connor McDavid looks determined to erase any doubts about his playoff legacy and he’s hungry to make a statement against Florida in the Finals.

But Dallas has the edge in lineup balance and situational hockey. Their coach, Pete DeBoer, knows how to win this time of year. The Stars have found ways to shut down top lines — just ask the Avalanche or Jets. Even though we doubted they could do it sometimes, they still figured out a way.

This series could also come down to depth scoring. Dallas has multiple players contributing across the board to keep the puck moving for a full 60 minutes. The Oilers have leaned heavily on their top 5 which exposes gaps that the Stars can capitalize on.

• Edge: Slight to Dallas

Prediction — A Seven-Game Battle on the Horizon

This series has all the makings of a classic. No matter the outcome, hockey fans will talk about this series for years to come.

High-octane offense against disciplined defense. Superstars against a structured system. If the Oilers can continue to outscore their goaltending issues and win the special teams battle, they can absolutely take the series. However, that’s a pretty tall order.

But if Dallas keeps things tight, limits penalties and Oettinger continues to outperform Pickard, they’ll control the tempo and pace.

It’s a coin flip in many ways. But based on how they’re playing, the Stars just look slightly more complete.

This might not make the hockey world happy, but we predict Dallas Stars in 7.