This year`s Western Conference Final marks the first rematch in this round since the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings squared off consecutively in 2013 and 2014. Following their meeting last spring (2024), the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars are set to clash once again in the 2025 WCF.
For the Dallas Stars, this is their third consecutive appearance in the West Final and their fourth in the past six years, a run that includes the 2020 “bubble playoffs.”
The Edmonton Oilers are also making their third trip to the West Final in four years. Last season, they bested Dallas in six games to earn a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. That memorable series featured pivotal moments like Connor McDavid`s double-overtime winner in Game 1 and his remarkable power-play goal, weaving through defenders, which opened the scoring in their 2-1 Game 6 series-clinching victory.
A unique aspect of this particular rematch is the intense hunger driving both teams. Unlike the 2014 series between the Blackhawks and Kings, where many players had already won Stanley Cups, neither the Oilers nor the Stars have recently lifted the trophy, despite consistently reaching the later stages of the playoffs.
Edmonton came incredibly close to achieving their ultimate goal last June, falling just one win shy. On the other side, Dallas is undoubtedly motivated to avenge their loss to the Oilers last year and make their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final under head coach Pete DeBoer.
Series Overview
Regular Season Head-to-Head Records
Edmonton: 1-2-0
Dallas: 2-1-0
Note: Playoff team statistics and advanced 5-on-5 stats were presented graphically in the original article but are not included here as requested.
Oilers` Defensive Contributors Step Up
With key shutdown defenseman Mattias Ekholm out of the lineup – and expected to miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference Final – other blueliners for the Oilers have been forced to take on significantly larger roles. Brett Kulak, for instance, has seen his ice time increase substantially from an average of 16:30 during last year`s playoff run to over 24 minutes per night this time around (24:15). These minutes are challenging, with 15.3% of Kulak`s shifts starting in the defensive zone, the highest percentage among Oilers defensemen.
Another defenseman making a notable impact is Jake Walman, acquired at the trade deadline. He entered this post-season with just a single career playoff game to his name but has consistently played over 20 minutes per night and leads the team with an impressive plus-13 rating in the playoffs.
The performances of these two defensemen are particularly impressive, demonstrating their ability to elevate their game and handle increased responsibilities, whether stepping into a much larger role or gaining significant playoff experience for the first time.
