The NHL playoffs is a competition that starts after the regular NHL season. It takes an elimination format and the last two teams will face off in the playoff finals, also known as the Stanley Cup playoff finals. The team that wins this match will be crowned the champions of the National Hockey League and earn the privilege of hoisting the Stanley Cup in front of their fans.
We take a look at the approximate dates for the 2025 NHL playoffs and evaluate the current favourite teams to lift the trophy!
When Do The NHL Playoffs Start?
The first round of the NHL playoffs 2025 will commence on April 16, 2025, with the regular season coming to a close on April 12, 2025.
After the initial stages comes the conference finals, which will take place from May 28, 2025 – June 9, 2025. As the name suggests, this will feature the top 2 teams from each conference battling it out for a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, which is scheduled between June 12, 2025 and June 25, 2025. Exact dates for all of the matches will be announced when the competing teams have been finalised.
Which Team is the favourite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup?
Currently, there are two favourites that are emerging from the pack to win the 2025 Stanley Cup. First is the Edmonton Oilers and despite not winning the trophy since 1990, their squad looks to be one of the very best in the league. Just like many punters were expecting, the Florida Panthers are also amongst the frontrunners as they look to retain the Stanley Cup after their successful 2023-24 campaign.
The Dallas Stars are the third favourites, which is again due to having a star-studded lineup. In their case, players to look out for include Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen, and, of course, Wyatt Johnston.
Here’s a look at the ten favourite teams to lift the Stanley Cup in 2025 before the regular season gets underway:
- Edmonton Oilers
- Florida Panthers
- Dallas Stars
- New Jersey Devils
- Colorado Avalanche
- New York Rangers
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Nashville Predators
What is the Stanley Cup 2025 Playoffs Format?
The format for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs will remain the same as in previous years. A total of 16 teams will qualify for the playoffs, which consists of four different stages (The First Round, the Second Round, the Conference Finals, and finally, the Stanley Cup Finals).
Each of these stages is decided with an elimination series, where the home team will host games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The other team will host games 3, 4, and 6. However, as each series is a best of 7, only the first four games are guaranteed to take place.
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