The stage is set. The rematch is on. For the second straight year, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will face off in the Stanley Cup Final, but this time, things are different.
Unlike last season’s heartbreaking Game 7 loss in Sunrise, the Oilers will have home ice advantage in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. After finishing first overall in the NHL standings, Edmonton earned the right to host four of the potential seven games at Rogers Place. That could be the factor that tips the scales in a series between two battle-tested, elite teams.
Here is the full schedule for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final:
Game 1: Wednesday, June 4 at 8:00 PM — in Edmonton
Game 2: Friday, June 6 at 8:00 PM — in Edmonton
Game 3: Monday, June 9 at 8:00 PM — in Florida
Game 4: Thursday, June 12 at 8:00 PM — in Florida
Game 5: Saturday, June 14 at 8:00 PM — in Edmonton (if necessary)
Game 6: Tuesday, June 17 at 8:00 PM — in Florida (if necessary)
Game 7: Friday, June 20 at 8:00 PM — in Edmonton (if necessary)
That’s four games at Rogers Place, including the crucial opening two and, if needed, Game 7. For a team that has fed off the energy of its home crowd all season, and especially during this playoff run, that’s a big deal. The Oilers are 6-1 at home in the postseason so far and seem to elevate their game when the fans are behind them in full voice.
On the flip side, the Panthers are no strangers to playing spoiler on the road. Their heavy, physical forecheck and disciplined structure travel well, and they’ve already won multiple games away from Sunrise during these playoffs. Still, having to open the series in Edmonton and potentially close it there is a tough task for any team.
The schedule is also quite evenly spaced, with two days off between most games. That gives both clubs time to travel, rest, and make adjustments. For Edmonton, this means the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Stuart Skinner, and Evan Bouchard can stay fresh as Kris Knoblauch leans on his top players in key moments.
It all sets up a thrilling, evenly matched Stanley Cup Final, but one where the Oilers have a distinct advantage they didn’t have last year: the chance to win it all on home ice. If there’s a script the Oilers want to rewrite from 2024, this year’s schedule gives them the perfect opportunity to do it.