Overview

• The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers face off in the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year, with Edmonton having won last year’s series in six games.
• Dallas aims to avenge its 2024 loss, entering the series with added firepower from midseason acquisitions Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund.
• Edmonton has improved defensively, finishing its previous series with back-to-back shutouts led by goaltender Stuart Skinner, who will start Game 1.
• Special teams could play a decisive role, with Dallas boasting superior power-play and penalty-kill percentages compared to Edmonton this postseason.
• Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm, sidelined for most of the playoffs, has been ruled out for the first two games but may return later in the series.