Oilers Edge Panthers 5-4 in Overtime, Level Stanley Cup Final

Overtime was the stage for a thrilling finish as the Edmonton Oilers triumphed over the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night. This matchup marked the third instance in this series where play extended beyond regulation, showcasing the intensity of the competition.

Leon Draisaitl emerged as the hero, netting the decisive goal in overtime—his fourth such goal this postseason. The Oilers, having erased a daunting three-goal deficit, demonstrated resilience after allowing a late equalizer that sent the game into extra time.

With just over six minutes remaining in the third period, Jake Walman put the Oilers ahead for the first time. However, Sam Reinhart's late goal, just 19.5 seconds before the final buzzer, forced overtime. This series has seen three of its first four games require extra periods, a rarity not witnessed since 2013 and only the fifth occurrence in NHL history.

Draisaitl's goal at 11:18 into overtime leveled the series, setting the stage for Game 5 in Edmonton on Saturday night. The back-and-forth nature of this series has captivated fans, with both teams showcasing their prowess on the ice.

Historically, the Oilers made headlines by becoming the first road team to overcome a three-goal deficit in a Stanley Cup Final since the Montreal Canadiens did so against the Seattle Metropolitans in 1919. In total, only six teams have managed such a comeback in NHL Finals history, with the last instance occurring in 2006.

Initially, it appeared that Edmonton might be overwhelmed. The Oilers fell behind 3-0 in the first period due to two goals from Matthew Tkachuk and another from Anton Lundell just before the period ended—a moment that could have been demoralizing.

In response, Coach Kris Knoblauch made a pivotal decision to replace starting goalie Stuart Skinner after he allowed three goals on 17 shots. Calvin Pickard, a backup who had previously won all six of his playoff starts before injury sidelined him, stepped in and delivered an impressive performance.

Pickard's acrobatic saves were crucial; he stopped the first 18 shots he faced, allowing Edmonton to mount a comeback. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins capitalized on a power play opportunity, followed by Darnell Nurse's shot that found its way past Sergei Bobrovsky. Vasily Podkolzin then tied the game at three with less than five minutes left in the second period.

As Draisaitl served a penalty at the start of the third period, the Oilers found themselves under pressure but relied on Pickard to maintain parity. He successfully thwarted every shot until Walman scored, igniting cheers from Edmonton fans present at the arena, including notable attendees like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Despite a late rally from Panthers fans when Reinhart equalized, Draisaitl quickly silenced them again with his overtime goal. The presence of Hockey Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, and Henrik Lundqvist added to the electric atmosphere as the Oilers fought to avoid falling behind 3-1 in this final series—a fate they experienced last year.

Now, both teams stand just a few victories away from claiming the coveted championship title.