The 2025 Stanley Cup Final Has Been Absolute Cinema and You Need to Watch

A rematch isn't always the most enticing prospect when it comes to the Stanley Cup Final.

Sometimes you want new stars emerging, new storylines to mull over or a new superstition to witness. For the most part, we already knew what we were getting in the 2025 Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, a rematch of the 2024 series that saw the latter hoist the Cup in seven games. 

We knew we were getting two of the best forwards in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl looking for their pure skill to overcome the Panthers’ full-team, overwhelming forecheck.

We knew we were getting the same two goalies: Sergei Bobrovsky, who is known to steal crucial games despite his imperfections, and Stuart Skinner, who is bouncing back nicely after a rough start these playoffs.

But we didn’t know the predictable nature of the matchup would actually make for the most entertaining Final imaginable. If you’ve watched these first two games, you’ve spent hours on the edge of your seat. If you haven’t tuned in yet, you’d better flip on the TV for Game 3.

"They're very intense games," Game 2 overtime hero Brad Marchand said. "The energy in this building is pretty incredible. You can see the way they feed off of it. Just the intensity of the games, it's exciting to be a part of."

As the 1-1 series shifts to Florida, one thing is clear: These teams are significantly superior to all of the opponents they both destroyed along the way back to each other. Now every shift counts in skin-tight games won and lost by inches. 

So far, there have been eight first-period goals – the most through two games of a Final since 1936. There have been six game-tying goals, just the second time in Final history teams have combined for at least six tying goals through the first two games. The four tying goals in Game 2 matched a Stanley Cup Final record, and they were the most in any playoff game in more than a decade.

The back-and-forth of two elite teams might be a simple concept, but it's made for a stunning Final you have to watch with your own eyes to truly appreciate. There have been four lead changes, and neither team has felt truly out of a game for a second. Each shift has demanded our attention, and each game has needed overtime as a result.

We got star power with Draisaitl winning Game 1's overtime. The Hart Trophy finalist had zero goals as he was playing hurt in last season’s Final, but now he’s got three, including a game-winner through the first two games alone.

If you were still seeking a new storyline, enter Panthers trade-deadline acquisition Brad Marchand. The 37-year-old former Boston Bruins captain called Game 2 in double overtime for his second goal of the game.

Mind you, the thing went to overtime in the first place because 40-year-old Oiler Corey Perry scored the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history with 17.8 seconds remaining in regulation.

We've also got a much healthier Oilers team this year, hungry to see McDavid hoist his first Cup and take his biggest step in becoming the best hockey player of all time.

We've got a relentless Panthers team appearing in its third straight Final, determined to reach dynasty status. We've got the biggest stars stepping up each night, with few passengers when it comes to collective roster depth and tons of perspective from the veterans.

The Panthers were on a 31-0 streak of winning playoff games with a lead in the first or second period until the Oilers crashed the party. Edmonton had been impeccable at home these playoffs until the Panthers came along. Sam Bennett set an NHL record Friday, scoring his 12th road goal of the playoffs to help Florida even the series.

That's just it. Each team essentially needs to break an NHL record each night to come up with a win, and the hunger on both sides is just increasing by the game. It all leaves us with one of the closest Stanley Cup Finals we’ve ever witnessed and far more questions than answers headed into Monday's Game 3 in Florida. 

You've still got time to see it for yourself, but you are missing out on some of the best hockey ever seen if you don't.