Edmonton, AB – The pattern is clear.
Look at the last three National Hockey League seasons (2023, 2024, and 2025), there have been 12 spots available in the Conference Finals series.
The Dallas Stars? They have claimed a spot in all three years, making their third consecutive appearance.
The Florida Panthers? They have done the same.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers have reached this stage twice in this three-year span. The Oilers also made the Western Conference Final in 2022, losing to Colorado, giving them three appearances in the last four years.
Now, as the 2025 playoffs reach the Conference Finals (the second-to-last round), these same four teams collectively account for 10 out of the last 12 available berths at this stage, and remarkably, they are the final four teams standing this season.
The matchups are Carolina vs. Florida and Dallas vs. Edmonton.
Interestingly, none of these four teams finished first in their respective divisions this season, yet all have advanced to the final round before the Stanley Cup Final. The championship series is set to begin in the Western Conference city, regardless of which team from Round 3 makes it through.
Carolina faces Florida, and Dallas takes on Edmonton.
Why is this sustained success happening?
How did the Oilers manage to win three road games in Vegas during Round 2, while the Winnipeg Jets, who finished as the top regular-season team, couldn`t secure a single road win across two playoff rounds?
Why do the Dallas Stars` key players consistently find ways to score in the playoffs year after year, while the Toronto Maple Leafs` “Core Four” struggles to succeed in the postseason?
