The NHL Conference Finals are the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They consist of two best-of-seven series: one for the Eastern Conference and one for the Western Conference. The winners receive the Prince of Wales Trophy (East) and the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (West) and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
In the 2025 Western Conference Final, the Dallas Stars (second in Central) lead the Edmonton Oilers (third in Pacific) 1-0 in the series. Dallas won Game 1 with a score of 6–3. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, May 23, at 8 p.m. ET in Dallas. Games 3 and 4 will be in Edmonton on May 25 and May 27. If necessary, Games 5 to 7 will take place from May 29 to June 2.
Western Conference NHL Winners
The Western Conference featured strong teams like the Detroit Red Wings, who won six titles, including three straight from 1995 to 1998. The Colorado Avalanche captured four titles (1996, 2001, 2002, 2022), winning the Cup in three of those years. The Chicago Blackhawks won three titles between 2010 and 2015, and the Los Angeles Kings won in 2012 and 2014, both times capturing the Stanley Cup.
The Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks each made multiple Final appearances, with Anaheim winning in 2007. The Vegas Golden Knights won in 2018 and 2023, with a Cup win in 2023. Other champions included the Edmonton Oilers (2024), St. Louis Blues (2019), and Nashville Predators (2017). No playoffs were held in 2005 due to a lockout, and in 2021, the Canadiens were awarded the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl in a realigned playoff format.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Games |
| 1994 | Vancouver Canucks | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5 |
| 1995 | Detroit Red Wings | Chicago Blackhawks | 5 |
| 1996 | Colorado Avalanche | Detroit Red Wings | 6 |
| 1997 | Detroit Red Wings | Colorado Avalanche | 6 |
| 1998 | Detroit Red Wings | Dallas Stars | 6 |
| 1999 | Dallas Stars | Colorado Avalanche | 7 |
| 2000 | Dallas Stars | Colorado Avalanche | 7 |
| 2001 | Colorado Avalanche | St. Louis Blues | 5 |
| 2002 | Detroit Red Wings | Colorado Avalanche | 7 |
| 2003 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | Minnesota Wild | 4 |
| 2004 | Calgary Flames | San Jose Sharks | 6 |
| 2005 | No conference finals were played due to the lockout. | ||
| 2006 | Edmonton Oilers | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 5 |
| 2007 | Anaheim Ducks | Detroit Red Wings | 6 |
| 2008 | Detroit Red Wings | Dallas Stars | 6 |
| 2009 | Detroit Red Wings | Chicago Blackhawks | 5 |
| 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks | San Jose Sharks | 4 |
| 2011 | Vancouver Canucks | San Jose Sharks | 5 |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Kings | Phoenix Coyotes | 5 |
| 2013 | Chicago Blackhawks | Los Angeles Kings | 5 |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Kings | Chicago Blackhawks | 7 |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | Anaheim Ducks | 7 |
| 2016 | San Jose Sharks | St. Louis Blues | 6 |
| 2017 | Nashville Predators | Anaheim Ducks | 6 |
| 2018 | Vegas Golden Knights | Winnipeg Jets | 5 |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | San Jose Sharks | 6 |
| 2020 | Dallas Stars | Vegas Golden Knights | 5 |
| 2021 | Conference-based playoffs were not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl was awarded to the Montreal Canadiens. | ||
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | Edmonton Oilers | 4 |
| 2023 | Vegas Golden Knights | Dallas Stars | 6 |
| 2024 | Edmonton Oilers | Dallas Stars | 6 |
FAQs on Western Conference NHL Winners
A. The Edmonton Oilers won the 2024 Western Conference Final.
A. The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl is awarded to the Western Conference champion.
A. The winner advances to the Stanley Cup Final to face the Eastern Conference champion.
A. The Montreal Canadiens has the most Stanley Cup titles with 24.
A. No. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conference-based playoffs were not held. The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl was awarded to the Montreal Canadiens.
