The Dallas Stars have consistently been on the cusp of reaching the NHL`s ultimate stage over the past two seasons. Their journey has culminated in appearances in the Western Conference Final, the farthest this core group has advanced. However, there`s considerable optimism surrounding the team`s prospects as they aim to secure their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 2020.
Most recently, in the 2024 Western Conference Final, the Stars were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in six games. The series saw Dallas take an early lead, winning two of the first three contests, before their offensive production significantly declined, managing only four goals across the final three games.
The year prior, in the 2023 Western Conference Final, Dallas faced off against the Vegas Golden Knights, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Stars found themselves in a daunting 3-0 deficit before mounting a brief rally to win Games 4 and 5. Despite closing the gap, they were decisively defeated 6-0 by the Golden Knights in Game 6, ending their championship hopes for that season.
While many players from those preceding campaigns remain, this current Stars roster possesses a distinct identity and a strong motivation to prove they can overcome past hurdles. The acquisition of forward Mikko Rantanen at the trade deadline was a pivotal moment, instantly elevating Dallas`s status to one of the betting favorites to lift the Stanley Cup this summer, a belief rooted in solid justification.
The Impact of Mikko Rantanen
Since his arrival in March, Mikko Rantanen has been everything the Stars had hoped for. Rantanen has been an offensive dynamo in the NHL postseason, leading all players in points with 19 through the first two rounds, tallying nine goals and ten assists, and showing no signs of slowing down his exceptional play.
While the Stars have long been known for their impressive forward depth, Rantanen brings an `alpha` quality – the ability to take over a game whenever needed. This was evident in a four-game stretch bridging the end of the first round and the start of the second, where he amassed eight goals, including scoring hat tricks in consecutive games. Rantanen has a proven track record of delivering in high-pressure situations throughout his career, and his continued elite performance will be vital for the Stars` offensive success.
Crucial Goaltending from Jake Oettinger
Examining recent Stanley Cup champions reveals a common theme: reliable goaltending, with names like Sergei Bobrovsky, Adin Hill, and Andrei Vasilevskiy providing stability in net. For the Dallas Stars, goaltender Jake Oettinger is coming off a strong performance in the latter half of their second-round series victory against the Winnipeg Jets.
Entering the Western Conference Final, Oettinger holds an 8-5-0 record in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, accompanied by a 2.47 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. He was particularly sharp in the final four games against the Jets in the previous round, posting a stellar 1.75 GAA and a .939 save percentage, contributing significantly to three of Dallas`s wins. Oettinger has allowed more than three goals in only two of his thirteen postseason starts. His capability to make crucial saves is underscored by a .963 save percentage against unblocked shots, according to MoneyPuck. While the team boasts an elite offense, the Stars` ultimate success in the playoffs will heavily depend on Oettinger`s performance.
Excellence on Special Teams
The Stars are a formidable team when playing at five-on-five strength, but they become even more dangerous on the power play. During the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Dallas ranks third overall with a 30.8% success rate, which is the highest percentage among the teams still remaining in the postseason. Their 12 goals scored with the man advantage are the most by any team in the NHL playoffs. Notably, Dallas has capitalized on the power play in three of their last four games, including defenseman Thomas Harley scoring the game-winning and series-clinching goal in overtime of Game 6 against Winnipeg while on the power play.
Dallas has also demonstrated proficiency on the penalty kill throughout the playoffs. The Stars maintain an 86.0% penalty kill rate during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, positioning them third among playoff teams, behind only the Carolina Hurricanes (93.3%) and Florida Panthers (89.5%). In their second-round series against the Jets, they limited the opposition to just three power-play goals. Dallas relies on a highly experienced top penalty-killing unit, featuring Sam Steel, Mikael Granlund, Esa Lindell, and Cody Ceci, which has performed exceptionally well this postseason.
