Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars will be played tonight at 8 p.m. ET at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. It will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
From one rematch to another!
Last night, we began a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals with Florida and Carolina. Now, we head to Big D, where the Stars seek revenge on the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton took Dallas out in last season's Western Conference Finals in a 4-2 series win.
Check out my Oilers vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks for May 21, 2025.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars Odds
| Oilers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -235 | 6 -120o / 100u | +105 |
| Stars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +190 | 6 -120o / 100u | -125 |
- Oilers vs. Stars puck line: Oilers -1.5, Stars +1.5
- Oilers vs. Stars over/under: 6
- Oilers vs. Stars moneyline: Oilers ML +105, Stars ML -125
Edmonton Oilers Preview: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Skinner
The big discussion surrounding the Edmonton Oilers team is whether they’re deeper than the team that was one win away from winning the Stanley Cup last season.
For me, it’s hard to tell. While Edmonton added Jake Walman, Kasperi Kapanen, and John Klingberg to the fold, the departures of youngsters Ryan McLeod, Dylan Holloway, and Philip Broberg were glaring holes after the seasons they had.
You can’t talk about the Oilers without mentioning their Big 3 in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard –-all averaging over a point per game.
Edmonton was an exceptional 5-on-5 team during the second round, ranking third in expected goals with a 55.84 xGF% and defensively with a 2.22 xGA/60 (but don’t ask the Oilers if they’re surprised how good defensively they were – it’s a sore subject).
Additionally, goaltending is still a weakness, even despite the previous two games Stuart Skinner has had. Skinner began the playoffs on a terrible note, took an extended break, and then posted two consecutive shutouts.
Perhaps that was the confidence boost he needed. However, I’ve followed Skinner his whole career, and these performances can be outliers, only for him to give up five goals on 14 shots.
Dallas Stars Preview: From Mikko to Miro: Everyone Eats in Big D
If we want to talk about deep teams, look no further than the Dallas Stars.
Mikko Rantanen finished off the series against Winnipeg with two consecutive and uncharacteristic goose eggs, but the Moose still owns the playoff point lead with 19.
Thomas Harley, Game 6 hero in the semifinals, is the second leading scorer, and he’s become one of the league’s most dominant defensemen.
Amidst all this, Jason Robertson still hasn’t registered a goal yet. The multiple-time 40-goal scorer missed a lot of time due to injury, but in his return, he has only notched one assist.
We talk about how good Edmonton was in the second round, but Dallas was even better. The Stars were the second most effective team in 5-on-5 expected goals with a 57.89 xGF%, but their defense was almost impenetrable with a 2.17 xGA/60.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jake Oettinger, who, in my eyes, won the semifinals on his back. The Jets kept throwing everything they had, and “Otter” wasn’t allowing any of it.
He posted a .929 SV% in the six games, including stopping 22 out of 23 shots in the Game 6 clincher.
Oilers vs. Stars Prediction, Pick
I’m curious about how this series will go. Dallas seems like the superior team, but the Stanley Cup evaded the Oilers last season, so you’d have to imagine they’re extra motivated for redemption.
You can never count out McDavid and Draisaitl until the clock strikes zero, and Rantanen seems determined to win a Cup in pure spite of his former team, Colorado.
I’ll give the obvious edge in goaltending to the Stars. If Oettinger outperformed the likely Vezina winner in Connor Hellebuyck, I have no doubt he’ll overtake Skinner.
We’ll rock with the Stars at home in the Western Conference Finals opener, where Dallas was unstoppable throughout the season, and the only game in the playoffs that it lost at home was the first game of the postseason.
While Edmonton has a proven track record of winning on the road, I’m giving a slight advantage to the Stars.
Pick: Dallas Stars ML (-125)
How to Watch Stars vs. Oilers
- Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
- Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
- Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV/Streaming: ESPN
