Stanley Cup Final Thrills
In a thrilling start to the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers rallied from a deficit to vanquish the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The game marked the much-awaited return of defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who had been sidelined for most of the postseason due to a lower-body injury but made his presence felt by scoring an equalizing goal in the third period, his first in the playoffs this year.
Game Highlights
The Oilers initially fell behind just over a minute into the game when Leon Draisaitl found the net, marking his eighth goal of the playoffs. However, the Panthers quickly responded, with Sam Bennett scoring two goals and Brad Marchand adding another via a power play, putting Florida ahead 2-1 after the Oilers challenged a potential goalie interference penalty.
Despite the Panthers extending their lead to 3-1 early in the second period, the Oilers struck back quickly, with Viktor Arvidsson finding the net just 77 seconds after Bennett’s second goal. The momentum shifted as Edmonton completed a significant comeback, achieving their third multi-goal comeback in the current postseason — a franchise record equaled for the first time since 1988 and 1990.
Decisive Moments
Ultimately, Draisaitl, who had a standout performance with two goals, delivered the game-winner in overtime. This victory not only marked the Oilers’ 41st multi-goal comeback win in Stanley Cup Final history but also handed the Panthers their first playoff loss in their last 32 games under the leadership of coach Paul Maurice when holding a lead after the first or second period.
Historical Context
Historically, teams that win Game 1 in the Stanley Cup Final enjoy a robust overall series record of 65-20, with a particularly impressive home record of 52-10. The last four Stanley Cup champions have all emerged victorious in their series openers. Game 2 is set to take place on Friday night in Edmonton before heading to Sunrise, Florida for the next leg of the series.
