SportsLine's hockey model has simulated Dallas vs. Connor McDavid and Edmonton in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoff Western Conference Final on Friday 10,000 times

The 16-team field for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is now down to four: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. For the Stars and Oilers, it's a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference finals;

Going into this season, only four teams had gone to three straight conference finals, and all four won it all at least once. Three — Tampa Bay, Chicago and Los Angeles — won two. The Stars are just trying to make the Final for the first time under Pete DeBoer. Feels like a tipping point. Stars in 7 games.