2025 NHL Western Conference Final Prediction: Oilers vs. Stars Expert Picks, Odds

The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars' Western Conference Final rematch will decide whether the former books their second straight Stanley Cup Final ticket. 

Edmonton, the Stanley Cup odds favorite, has a slight advantage at our best sports betting sites as we offer Oilers vs. Stars prediction while providing an AI pick for the eventual winner.

This is the Stars' third straight Western Conference Final, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights before falling to the Oilers last season. 

🔢 Oilers vs. Stars Western Conference Final odds 

The odds are via our best NHL betting sites and are updated in real time.

🤔 Oilers vs. Stars prediction 

There's not much to choose between these teams, which should make for an instant classic. If you've followed our picks and predictions throughout the season, I've been bullish about the Oilers. And I'm not stopping now, as they can beat you in any number of ways.

Concede the first goal, no worries. Go into the third period at a deficit; all good. Win in enemy environments. Their 4-2 road record in the playoffs, which includes four straight wins, speaks volumes. Excluding the opening two games of the postseason, it hasn't mattered who's between the pipes. 

Want to go toe-to-toe with the Oilers in a run-in-gun, high-scoring affair? I dare you. 

How about a low-scoring, defensive slugfest? Refer back to Games 4 and 5 against Vegas. Is dragging the game into overtime the way to go? Their 3-0 sudden death record says otherwise.

The Oilers are among the most balanced offenses in these playoffs. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were in on just 20% of the goals in the second round against the Golden Knights and 18.5% in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings. Those percentages are way down from 30.1% in the regular season.

Unless Oettinger stands on his head throughout, the Oilers should get back to the dance. 

💡 Western Conference Final prediction: Oilers 
💰 Best odds: -110 via DraftKings

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📈 Oilers vs. Stars comparison

Offense: The Oilers made off with all of Winnipeg's jet fuel before the postseason started, which continually propels the league's most dynamic and explosive offense.

The Oilers have scored the second-most goals per game (4) and the third-most per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (2.99), while the Stars have tallied the sixth-fewest (2.62) overall and per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (1.85).  

Edmonton's scoring is also incredibly balanced this postseason, belying the narrative of seasons past. Sixteen players have scored in their 11 playoff games, and only three who've played at least nine games haven't lit the lamp (John Klingberg, Brett Kulak, and Ty Emberson).

Meanwhile, the Stars have relied on Mikko Rantanen for nine of their 34 goals (26%). 

Compare that to the Oilers, whose leading scorers - Draisaitl and Corey Perry - have 10 of the team's 43 goals (23.2%). 

Defense: While the Oilers defense continually improves, the nod has to go to Dallas. Miro Heiskanen is back and getting closer to returning to his best vintage. Even without their all-star defenseman for most of the first two rounds, the Stars have the fourth-best goals against (2.92) and the sixth-best goals against per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (2.04). 

The Oilers have done remarkably well recently despite not having their best shutdown defenseman (Mattias Ekholm) available, but they can't match the depth of Dallas' D. 

5-on-5: The Oilers have the third-best goal differential (+8), while the Stars' minus-2 is tied for sixth-worst with the eliminated Washington Capitals. Edmonton is receiving more secondary scoring and can also overturn a deficit better than any team, which it showcased by winning its first five games after allowing the first goal. 

Special teams: While the Oilers have the personnel, pedigree and past success to flip this scenario in an instant, Dallas' special teams currently gets the nod.

The Stars have the third-best power play (30.8%) and the third-best penalty kill (86.1%). On the other hand, the Oilers' power play struggled against Vegas, bringing it down to 25%, the sixth-best. Its penalty kill ranks third-last with a dour 66.7%. 

Goaltending: While this category was never in doubt, the Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner duo, one of the more unconventional yet effective playoff partnerships, has muddied the water slightly. 

Whenever Skinner falters, which he inevitably does, Pickard does an admirable job in relief. After winning all six playoff starts, Pickard picked up an injury in Game 2 against the Golden Knights, giving Skinner another kick at the can, akin to last year's playoffs. 

Skinner has two shutouts in three games since returning to the crease, and he's an astonishing 12-1 in the last 13 games at the tail end of a series (Games 4 through 7). The only defeat came in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

So, while Jake Oettinger is still the pick, it's not as cut and dry as it once was. 

💰 Oilers vs. Stars best bets 

Odds via FanDuel 

🤖 Oilers vs. Stars AI prediction 

We asked ChatGPT, a large language model chatbot from OpenAI, for its best prediction to win the Eastern Conference Final. Please note that ChatGPT is not an experienced bettor but can provide additional information and insights into the tournament and betting markets. This is for entertainment purposes only.

💡 AI Western Conference Final prediction: Stars 4-2
💰 Best odds: +500 via DraftKings

⭐️ Dallas Stars – Why they’ll win

1. Defensive depth & structure

• Dallas plays an elite 5-on-5 defensive game. Their team-wide commitment to positioning and puck management limits high-danger chances — the exact kind of chances McDavid and Draisaitl thrive on.

2. Jake Oettinger’s consistency

• Oettinger has been outstanding, especially in clutch moments — see his Game 6 OT win vs. Winnipeg. His calm demeanor and ability to make the timely save gives Dallas the confidence to play aggressive without being reckless.

3. Forward depth & physicality

• Dallas can roll four lines, all of which can score and defend. Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, and Mason Marchment offer a varied attack.
• They also play with an edge. Teams that wear down the Oilers physically tend to fare better against them in a 7-game series.

4. Mikko Rantanen factor

• The midseason acquisition of Rantanen from Colorado gave Dallas a new dimension — a power winger who can possess the puck, create space, and produce in tight-checking games.

🗓️ Oilers vs. Stars schedule 

All games start at 8 p.m. ET with the exception of Game 3, which starts 3 p.m. ET.

Game 1: Wednesday, May 21, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 2: Friday, May 23, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 3: Sunday, May 25, Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alta.) 📺/🛜: ESPN, ABC, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alta.) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 5: *Thursday, May 29, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 6: *Saturday, May 31, Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alta.) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 7: *Monday, June 2, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+

💵 Best hockey betting sites

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