Will the Oilers, Devils, and Canadiens make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs?
As of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, and Montreal Canadiens have all secured their places in the postseason, a major achievement in the grueling National Hockey League (NHL) regular season. However, as with all playoff formats, the road to winning the Stanley Cup is not paved in gold, and each of these teams faces distinct challenges as they attempt to make a deep run. Their respective standings, matchups, strategies, and internal issues will play pivotal roles in determining whether they can go all the way to a Stanley Cup victory or if they will fall short.
The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with high expectations. With a roster that includes superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers have been an offensive juggernaut throughout the regular season. Their ability to put pucks in the net has been unmatched, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL on paper. However, as we all know, the playoffs often bring a different dynamic. It’s not just about scoring goals but also about defense, goaltending, and timely special teams play. For the Oilers, their primary concern heading into the playoffs has been whether their defensive game can hold up under the pressure of postseason hockey.
Through the regular season, the Oilers were dominant in their division, finishing third in the Pacific Division behind the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings. While their offense was potent, their defensive play at times looked porous, with defensive lapses that could have cost them dearly in tighter games. This concern only intensified when they matched up against the Kings in the first round of the playoffs, a team that has been a thorn in the Oilers’ side in recent years. The Kings’ depth, two-way play, and defensive structure would be a formidable test for Edmonton’s high-powered attack. In the first two games of the series, the Kings have shown just how difficult they can be to break down, with a 6-2 victory in Game 2, which gave them a 2-0 series lead.
For the Oilers to have any chance of advancing, they will need to tighten up defensively. Goaltending from Stuart Skinner, though solid throughout the regular season, will need to be stellar in the playoffs. In addition, they’ll need McDavid and Draisaitl to elevate their games, something both are capable of doing, given their track records. If the Oilers can match their offensive firepower with a more solid defensive effort, there’s no reason why they couldn’t recover from this early series deficit and make a serious run. The question remains: Can their defense improve quickly enough to make a difference?
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils entered the playoffs with a strong regular season performance, finishing third in the Metropolitan Division. Led by their dynamic young stars like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt, the Devils seemed poised for a deep playoff run. Their speed and skill made them one of the most exciting teams in the NHL this season, but just like the Oilers, the question for the Devils has always been whether their defense could hold up under the intensity of playoff hockey. This uncertainty has only been exacerbated by key injuries to their roster.
One of the major storylines heading into the playoffs for the Devils was the loss of their captain, Jack Hughes, who underwent shoulder surgery late in the regular season. Hughes was arguably the team’s most impactful player, and his absence left a significant hole in New Jersey’s offense. In addition, defenseman Dougie Hamilton, another critical component of their blue line, has been battling injuries. These injuries have made the Devils’ chances of success in the playoffs more uncertain. To make matters worse, their first-round matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes has been challenging, as the Hurricanes are one of the most complete teams in the NHL. With a well-structured defense and a potent offense, Carolina is tough to break down, and the Devils have found themselves struggling in the face of these challenges.
After losing the first two games of the series, New Jersey is facing an uphill battle to avoid early elimination. They have shown moments of brilliance, but without the leadership of Hughes and the stability that Hamilton brings to the defense, they are lacking some of the firepower and reliability needed to compete with a team like Carolina. For the Devils to make a comeback, they will need a more collective effort. Players like Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Vitek Vanecek in net will need to step up their game. If New Jersey can weather the storm in the first few games, regain some of their lost confidence, and get timely scoring, they may still be able to turn the series around. However, this will require everyone on the team to rise to the occasion and fill the gaps left by the injuries to their stars.
In the case of the Montreal Canadiens, their situation is a bit different. As a team that barely made it into the playoffs as a wild-card entrant in the Eastern Conference, the Canadiens have exceeded expectations this season. With young players like Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Kirby Dach, the Canadiens have injected their lineup with youthful energy and skill. While they might not be as deep or as talented as some of the other playoff teams, they have demonstrated a resilience and team-oriented game that has kept them competitive throughout the season.
However, their first-round matchup against the Washington Capitals has proven difficult. Despite having home-ice advantage, the Canadiens have fallen behind 2-0 in the series. The Capitals, led by Alex Ovechkin, have been opportunistic and have taken advantage of Montreal’s occasional defensive lapses. The Canadiens have shown some positive signs, particularly in the third periods, but their inability to fully capitalize on offensive opportunities has been their biggest hurdle. While goaltender Sam Montembeault has kept them in games with key saves, Montreal has struggled to generate consistent pressure in the offensive zone, and the Capitals have capitalized on their mistakes.
Despite these challenges, Montreal is far from out of the race. They have a strong fanbase and can lean on the energy of the Bell Centre to push back in this series. Their young stars will need to step up, and they will need to find a way to tighten up defensively while finding ways to create more offensive chances. If the Canadiens can capitalize on their power play and generate more offensive zone time, they could pull off an upset against the Capitals. It will also be crucial for Montreal to solve Washington’s defense and find ways to break down goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who has been steady in net for the Capitals.
Each of these teams—Edmonton, New Jersey, and Montreal—faces a unique set of challenges as they attempt to make a run in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Edmonton has the offensive firepower but needs to shore up its defense to succeed. New Jersey is battling injury issues but has the talent to compete if its key players can step up. Montreal has the heart and drive but must find ways to outplay more experienced teams like the Capitals. The ultimate question for all three teams will be whether they can overcome their respective hurdles and rise to the occasion when the stakes are at their highest.
For the Oilers, the key will be whether their offense can break through the defense of the Kings and if their defensive weaknesses can be mitigated by Skinner’s goaltending and improved team defense. For the Devils, the absence of key players like Hughes and Hamilton will be difficult to overcome, but their speed and skill could still carry them if the rest of the team rises to the occasion. Meanwhile, the Canadiens will need to prove they can compete with veteran-laden teams and overcome their early series deficit against Washington.
Ultimately, while all three teams have the potential to make a deep playoff run, their paths to the Stanley Cup will require overcoming significant obstacles. The unpredictability of the playoffs, combined with the pressure that comes with high-stakes games, means that no outcome is guaranteed. Fans of the Oilers, Devils, and Canadiens will be hoping for their teams to dig deep, overcome adversity, and make a push toward lifting the Stanley Cup. However, as history has shown, only the strongest and most resilient teams survive the grueling playoff journey to claim hockey’s ultimate prize.
