2025 NHL Playoffs: Oilers and Panthers locked in an epic tug-of-war

It’s not just a rematch—it’s a reckoning.

Twelve months after their Stanley Cup dreams were shattered on Florida ice, the Edmonton Oilers are back in Sunrise with redemption on their minds and a tied series in their hands. The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and the Florida Panthers has delivered everything it promised—and more. Through two heart-pounding games, the series stands at 1-1, with both teams having clawed their way to dramatic overtime victories, setting the stage for what could become one of the greatest championship battles in modern NHL history.

Same teams. Same arena. Same dream. But this time, Edmonton is determined to script a different ending.

Ghosts of the series’ past

The echoes of June 24, 2024, still linger. That night, the Oilers came within one goal of glory, only to fall 2-1 in Game 7. Images of a devastated Connor McDavid sitting in silence etched themselves into hockey lore and into the soul of a fanbase starving for a title.

“It was very emotional for us,” said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, reflecting on last year’s heartbreak. “Losing a Game 7 here is always going to stick with you.”

And yet, the Oilers carry a newfound calm and resilience this time around.

“We’ve played in this rink before,” said Connor Brown. “There’s a comfort level. You kind of know what to expect now.”

If last year was about learning the hard way, this year is about executing with surgical precision. Both Game 1 and Game 2 went to overtime, marking just the seventh time in Stanley Cup Final history that the first two games required extra time. The series has already featured over 170 minutes of action, 16 goals, and enough drama to fill a season’s worth of highlight reels.

“There’s zero room for error,” said Panthers forward Brad Marchand, who scored the double-overtime winner in Game 2. “It’s been a battle. Very intense.”

Each shift has become a microcosm of the series—fast, furious, and unforgiving.

McDavid magic and Marchand masterclass

Connor McDavid has been nothing short of sublime. Averaging over 33 minutes per game through the first two contests, he has racked up points and played with a tenacity that signals he understands what’s at stake—not just for the team, but for his legacy.

In Game 2, he sliced through the Panthers’ penalty kill with a toe-drag that embarrassed both Aaron Ekblad and Selke winner Aleksander Barkov before dishing a no-look assist to Leon Draisaitl for a power-play goal. It was vintage “McJesus”—a holy moment in a series of chaos.

“He’s got multiple options, so that’s the biggest challenge,” said Ekblad. “And a walk-on-water toe drag. So, ya—McJesus.”

But the Panthers have their own playoff icon.

At 37, Brad Marchand is playing like a man possessed. With three goals in two games—including a historic double-overtime and shorthanded tally in Game 2—Marchand has become the heartbeat of Florida’s attack. He’s skating more than any other Panthers forward and leads the team in high-danger chances. The gamble to acquire him from Boston at the deadline is paying off in gold.

“Lay it on the line”

This Final was billed as McDavid vs. Barkov, Draisaitl vs. Reinhart. But it’s Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett stealing the spotlight for Florida. Bennett, a wrecking ball in this postseason, has brought a relentless edge that’s turned the tide in key moments. He, Tkachuk, and Verhaeghe have frustrated Edmonton’s top lines and forced the Oilers to adapt.

Meanwhile, the Oilers’ depth has quietly become a strength. Corey Perry continues to play timely playoff hockey, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a question mark heading into Game 3, and trade deadline acquisition Trent Frederic is earning himself potential long-term interest. His physicality—66 hits in 18 playoff games—has added sandpaper the Oilers desperately needed.

On the blue line, Evan Bouchard has elevated his game to Conn Smythe consideration, while Darnell Nurse’s bruising play has provided crucial net-front clarity. Coach Kris Knoblauch’s decision to shuffle the defensive pairings ahead of Game 3—moving Nurse alongside John Klingberg—signals a tactical response to Florida’s forecheck-heavy attack.

But the margin of error is microscopic.

Both coaches agree: this series is being decided on the thinnest of margins.

“These games could have gone either way,” said Edmonton defenceman Mattias Ekholm. “It’s just a little, little detail here and there.”

Every turnover, missed check, and bad bounce has consequences. Ekholm found that out the hard way when a missed shot in Game 2 sparked Florida’s game-winner. Evan Bouchard echoed the sentiment: “You can’t let one (lost) battle lead to another because that’s when things are going to hurt.”

Redemption over revenge

For the Oilers, this is about more than avenging last year’s heartbreak. It’s about finishing the job. And they’re leaning into the lessons of the past without being haunted by them.

Head coach Knoblauch puts it best: “Whether that’s extending a shift or not getting the puck out, not getting the puck in, not finishing your checks … it all adds up.”

Every shift is a war. Every game, a grind. As Adam Henrique noted: “It might be a 1-0 game, and those mistakes could either cost you or pay dividends for you.”

Game 3 looms large on Monday night in Sunrise. Both teams have had an extra day to rest and regroup. For Florida, the goal is to grind. For Edmonton, it’s to skate—to slay their demons.

And if the Oilers have their way—this time, a very different ending.