Oilers Beat Stars To Generate Rare Stanley Cup Rematch

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final was a classic, as the Florida Panthers were able to fight off a near-historic comeback from the Edmonton Oilers to win their first title in seven games.

Well, this instant classic of a finals is coming back as the Oilers beat the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Thursday to win the Western Conference title, which would set up the first rematch in the Stanley Cup finals since 2009.

In 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit Red Wings after losing the year before.

Leading the Oilers to their second straight Clarence Campbell Bowl were center Leon Draisaitl, center Connor McDavid, and defenseman Jake Walman, all of whom contributed two points.

The Panthers were able to get to the Stanley Cup Final after beating the Carolina Hurricanes with a 5-3 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Panthers will be entering their third straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

The Oilers and Panthers will be just the fifth Stanley Cup Final rematch in consecutive years in the NHL expansion era, which began in 1967.

The Oilers will now seek their sixth Stanley Cup and first since 1990. In 1984, after losing to the New York Islanders in 1983, they won a rematch to claim their first trophy.

The Panthers are looking to win back-to-back Stanley Cups as they look to break the pattern of the winners of last year’s cup losing the next year when rematches occur.

The Panthers beat the Oilers twice this season. Both games were decided by one goal.

The Oilers’ Connor McDavid is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Award at -110, followed by Panthers’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at +250 at ESPN BET.