2025 Stanley Cup playoffs

Playoff qualification and format

The 2025 playoffs followed the NHL's standard 16-team format, with the top three teams from each of the four divisions qualifying automatically, joined by two wild-card teams from each conference. The Winnipeg Jets captured the Presidents' Trophy with a league-best 116 points, becoming the first Canadian team to do so since the 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks. The Toronto Maple Leafs extended their active playoff streak to nine consecutive seasons, the longest in the league after the Boston Bruins' eight-year streak ended. The Ottawa Senators qualified for the first time since 2017, ending what had been the league's third-longest active playoff drought. For the first time in NHL history, all four United States-based Original Six teams failed to make the postseason. The first round followed a 2-2-1-1-1 format for home games, with the higher-seeded team holding home-ice advantage in the first two rounds. Home-ice advantage in the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final was determined by regular-season point totals. The bracket was structured so the lower-seeded wild card played the division winner with the best conference record, while the higher-seeded wild card played the other division winner, with both wild cards serving as de facto fourth seeds.

First round series

The opening round featured several compelling matchups and historic performances, with no series ending in a four-game sweep for the first time since 2016. In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in six games, with the Senators avoiding a sweep by winning games four and five behind a 29-save shutout from Linus Ullmark in game five. The Florida Panthers dispatched the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky posting a 19-save shutout in game two and Eetu Luostarinen recording a goal and three assists in the clinching game five. The Washington Capitals eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in five games, with Alexander Ovechkin scoring an overtime winner in game one and Logan Thompson making 28 saves in the series-clinching game five. The Carolina Hurricanes also defeated the New Jersey Devils in five, with Sebastian Aho scoring a double-overtime winner in the clincher after the Hurricanes rallied from a three-goal deficit. In the Western Conference, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets needed a dramatic double-overtime victory in game seven to overcome the St. Louis Blues, with Cole Perfetti scoring a game-tying goal with three seconds left in regulation, setting a new league record for the latest tying goal in a seventh game. The Dallas Stars edged the Colorado Avalanche in seven games, as Stars coach Peter DeBoer improved his perfect game seven record to 9-0 and Mikko Rantanen became the first player in league history to score a third-period hat trick in a Game 7. The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild in six games, with Ivan Barbashev and Brett Howden scoring overtime winners in games four and five. The Edmonton Oilers rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Kings in six, continuing their recent playoff dominance over their Pacific Division rival with Leon Draisaitl scoring an overtime winner in game four.

Conference semifinals

The second round saw three Canadian teams advance, the most since 2004, but also featured three series sweeps. In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers staged a comeback to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in a tense seven-game series. After falling behind two games to none, the Panthers won games three, four, and five, with Bobrovsky posting shutouts in games four and five, stopping all 23 and 31 shots respectively. Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll responded with a 22-save shutout in game six to force a decisive seventh game, which Florida won to advance. In the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers swept the Vegas Golden Knights, with Leon Draisaitl scoring an overtime winner in game one as part of his record-setting playoff performance. The Winnipeg Jets' postseason ended as they were swept by the Dallas Stars, who advanced to the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year. The sweeps by Carolina, Edmonton, and Dallas marked a stark contrast to a first round that featured no sweeps, and this round solidified the conference finals matchups, guaranteeing that neither finalist would have had home-ice advantage in any prior round for the first time since 2012.

The second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs saw several series conclude. In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars swept the Winnipeg Jets in four games, and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. For the first time since 2004, three Canadian teams advanced to the second round. The Winnipeg Jets, as Presidents' Trophy winners, were swept by the Dallas Stars in the second round.

• Florida Panthers defeated Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3.
• Carolina Hurricanes defeated Washington Capitals, 4-0.
• Edmonton Oilers defeated Vegas Golden Knights, 4-0.
• Dallas Stars defeated Winnipeg Jets, 4-0.

In the conference finals, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers were both the lower-seeded teams. The Panthers, as the third seed from the Atlantic Division, faced the Washington Capitals, the top seed from the Metropolitan Division. The Oilers, as the third seed from the Pacific Division, faced the Dallas Stars, the second seed from the Central Division. For the first time since 2012, neither Stanley Cup Finals opponent had home-ice advantage in any rounds prior to the Finals. This set the stage for the Finals rematch between the Panthers and Oilers.

Conference finals

The conference finals pitted the two lowest-remaining seeds against each other in both the East and West, guaranteeing that neither Stanley Cup Finalist would have had home-ice advantage in any prior round, a first since 2012. In the Eastern Conference Final, the Florida Panthers, the third seed from the Atlantic Division, faced the Carolina Hurricanes, the second seed from the Metropolitan. The Panthers won the series in six games, with Bobrovsky allowing just seven goals over the final five games after a game one loss. Key performances included a game-winning goal from Anton Lundell in game three and a 32-save effort from Bobrovsky in the series-clinching 2-1 victory in game six. The Panthers' victory marked the sixth consecutive season a Florida-based team reached the Stanley Cup Final. In the Western Conference Final, the Edmonton Oilers, the third seed from the Pacific Division, met the Dallas Stars, the second seed from the Central. Leon Draisaitl scored two overtime winners in the series, part of his record-setting four overtime goals during the 2025 playoffs. The Oilers' advancement marked the first time since 2007 a Canadian-based team reached the Finals in consecutive seasons, setting the stage for a championship rematch.

Stanley Cup Final

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final was a rematch of the 2024 Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, the first Finals rematch since 2009. The Panthers captured their second consecutive championship by defeating the Oilers four games to two. Florida took a commanding 3-0 series lead, winning game one 4-2, game two 3-1, and game three 5-2. Edmonton staved off elimination with a 5-3 victory in game four and an 8-1 rout in game five, where Connor McDavid recorded four points. The Panthers closed out the series with a 2-1 victory in game six on home ice. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff most valuable player, posting a .925 save percentage in the Final and recording four shutouts during the postseason. The series concluded on June 17, 2025, with the Panthers winning their second title in franchise history and cementing their status as a modern dynasty.

Statistical leaders and records

The 2025 playoffs featured several historic individual performances and team milestones. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl set a new NHL record by scoring four overtime goals in a single postseason. The Winnipeg Jets' Cole Perfetti scored the latest game-tying goal in a Game 7 in league history, finding the net with three seconds left in regulation against St. Louis. Colorado's Mikko Rantanen became the first player to score a third-period hat trick in a Game 7 during the first-round loss to Dallas. For the sixth consecutive season, a team from Florida reached the Stanley Cup Final. The playoffs also saw no series end in a four-game sweep for the first time since 2016, and it was the first time since 2012 that neither Finals participant had home-ice advantage in any prior round. Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer also set a coaching record with his ninth career Game 7 victory, maintaining a perfect 9-0 record in such contests.

Notable team achievements and droughts

The postseason was marked by several significant team accomplishments and the end of notable droughts, particularly for Canadian franchises. A record-tying five Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs, the most in a standard 16-team tournament since 2017. For the first time since 2017, all three Eastern Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs, qualified together. Three Canadian teams advanced to the second round, a feat not achieved since 2004. The Edmonton Oilers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year, the first Canadian team to do so since 2007. Conversely, the New York Rangers became the first defending Presidents' Trophy winner to miss the playoffs twice, and all four US-based Original Six teams missed the postseason for the first time in league history. Additional notable streaks included all three New York state-based teams missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and both Pennsylvania-based teams missing for the third consecutive season. The Ottawa Senators ended the league's third-longest active playoff drought by qualifying for the first time since 2017, while the Toronto Maple Leafs' nine-year streak became the NHL's longest active run.

Key series highlights and moments

Beyond the final results, the 2025 playoffs were defined by memorable games and individual heroics. The Winnipeg Jets' seven-game victory over St. Louis was the longest Game 7 since the famed Easter Epic of 1987, featuring a historic late tying goal and a double-overtime winner from captain Adam Lowry. The Edmonton Oilers' first-round comeback from a 2-0 deficit against Los Angeles was sparked by a four-goal third period in game three, aided by a failed coach's challenge from Kings coach Jim Hiller. Dallas Stars forward Colin Blackwell and Tyler Seguin scored overtime winners in games two and three respectively against Colorado, setting the stage for their Game 7 victory. Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand scored an overtime winner in game three of the second round against Toronto, a critical moment in their series comeback. The first round also featured a double-overtime goal from New Jersey's Simon Nemec in game three against Carolina, and a hat trick from St. Louis's Pavel Buchnevich in a 7-2 rout of Winnipeg in game three. These moments collectively contributed to a postseason celebrated for its competitiveness and historic achievements, with every series requiring at least five games to decide.

There were many significant individual performances during the first round of the 2025 playoffs. For the Winnipeg Jets, Cole Perfetti scored a goal with three seconds left in Game 7 to force overtime against St. Louis, setting a new league record for the latest game-tying goal in a seventh game. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl began his record-setting playoff run by scoring an overtime goal in Game 4 against Los Angeles. For the Dallas Stars, Mikko Rantanen scored a hat trick in the third period of Game 7 against Colorado, becoming the first player in league history to do so in a seventh game.

• Mitch Marner (TOR): 1 goal, 2 assists in Game 1 vs. Ottawa.
• Matthew Tkachuk (FLA): 2 goals, 1 assist in Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay.
• Andrei Svechnikov (CAR): Hat trick in Game 4 vs. New Jersey.
• Nathan MacKinnon (COL): 2 goals, 1 assist in Game 1 vs. Dallas.
• Kirill Kaprizov (MIN): 2 goals, 1 assist in Game 2 vs. Vegas.
• Anze Kopitar & Adrian Kempe (LA): 4 points each in Game 2 vs. Edmonton.

The dramatic individual and team performances in the first round set the tone for the entire 2025 playoffs. The postseason was marked by offensive production, such as Leon Draisaitl's record four overtime goals. It also featured dramatic finishes, including multiple series going to seven games and no series ending in a four-game sweep for the first time since 2016. The playoffs concluded on June 17, 2025, with the Florida Panthers winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers four games to two in the Finals rematch.

Questions about 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs

Which team won the 2025 Stanley Cup?

The Florida Panthers won the 2025 Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers four games to two in the Final. This victory marked the Panthers' second consecutive championship and the second Stanley Cup title in the franchise's history. The series was a rematch of the 2024 Final, making it the first Stanley Cup Final rematch since 2009. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs after recording four shutouts and a .925 save percentage.

How many Canadian teams made the 2025 NHL playoffs?

Five Canadian-based teams qualified for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, the highest number since the expanded 2020 playoffs and the most in a standard 16-team playoff since 2017. The teams were the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens. This included all three Eastern Canadian clubs for the first time since 2017, and three of these teams, the Oilers, Maple Leafs, and Jets, advanced to the second round of the tournament. The Winnipeg Jets also won the Presidents' Trophy as the league's top regular-season team.

Was there a Game 7 in the 2025 playoffs?

Yes, there were three Game 7s during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the first round, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in double overtime, and the Dallas Stars defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-2. The second round featured a Game 7 where the Florida Panthers eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Jets-Blues Game 7 was particularly historic, as it was the longest Game 7 since 1987 and featured a game-tying goal by Winnipeg's Cole Perfetti with only three seconds left in regulation, a new league record for such a situation.

Who won the Presidents' Trophy in 2025?

The Winnipeg Jets won the 2025 Presidents' Trophy with the best regular season record of 116 points. This marked the first time a Canadian based team won the award since the 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks. The Jets also finished as Central Division and Western Conference regular season champions. In the playoffs, they defeated the St. Louis Blues in a seven game first round series before being eliminated in the second round.

What record did Leon Draisaitl set during the 2025 playoffs?

Leon Draisaitl set a league record by scoring four overtime goals in one playoff year. The Edmonton Oilers forward achieved this unprecedented feat during the 2025 postseason. His overtime goals were crucial in the Oilers' playoff run, which included a first round victory over the Los Angeles Kings and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Draisaitl's performance helped Edmonton reach the championship series for the second consecutive season.

Which team had the longest active playoff streak entering 2025?

The Toronto Maple Leafs had the longest active playoff streak entering 2025, extending it to nine consecutive years. This streak began in 2017 and became the league's longest after the Boston Bruins' eight year streak ended when they missed the 2025 playoffs. The Maple Leafs qualified by winning the Atlantic Division with 108 points. They then defeated the Ottawa Senators in the first round before losing to the Florida Panthers in the second round.

Sources and further reading

• 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs (Wikipedia)
• Sportsnet Announces 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs First ... (rogerssportsandmedia.com)
• NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs TV Schedule (sportsmediawatch.com)
• This Is Forever - 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (nhl.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.