Draisaitl OT Winner: Oilers Tie Stanley Cup Final
- — The Edmonton Oilers pulled off a stunning comeback Thursday night, defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to even the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece.
- The Oilers found themselves down 3-0 early in the first period, but rallied with three goals in the second.
- Coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the emotional swings of the game.
In a stunning turn of events, the Edmonton Oilers clawed their way back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime, tying the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece. Leon Draisaitl delivered a record-breaking overtime goal, his fourth of the playoffs, propelling the Oilers to victory. Witness the Oilers’ remarkable resilience as they mounted a comeback, fueled by determination and strategic plays, proving their mettle on the road. The Oilers’ victory marks just the sixth instance in Stanley Cup Final history of a team overcoming such a significant gap to win.News Directory 3 is your source for the latest sports highlights. The series now heads to Edmonton for a pivotal Game 5—what will unfold?
Oilers Rally to Tie Stanley Cup final with Thrilling OT Win
updated june 13, 2025
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Edmonton Oilers pulled off a stunning comeback Thursday night, defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to even the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece. Leon Draisaitl’s overtime goal, his record-breaking fourth in the playoffs, sealed the victory after Edmonton erased a three-goal deficit.
The Oilers found themselves down 3-0 early in the first period, but rallied with three goals in the second. After Jake Walman put Edmonton ahead late in the third, Sam reinhart scored with just 19.5 seconds remaining to force overtime.Ultimately, Edmonton’s resilience secured the crucial Game 4 win, fueled by strong play from backup goalie Calvin Pickard.
Coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the emotional swings of the game. “Games like that, it’s exhausting — it’s a roller coaster,” Knoblauch said. “Two good teams playing as hard as they are, playing the right way…it is fun and I think our guys are having fun, enjoying this moment.”
the Oilers’ comeback marks onyl the sixth time in Stanley Cup Final history a team has rallied from a three-goal deficit to win. This victory also marks the first time since 1919 that a road team has accomplished this feat.Edmonton’s four multi-goal comeback wins this postseason are second only to the 1987 Flyers.
ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who initiated the Oilers’ comeback with their first goal, expressed excitement about returning home. “Better than it could have been, but obviously a long way to go,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “We’re just excited to get back home and play in front of our fans, and Saturday night is going to be pretty fun.”
“That’s what we do: We’re a resilient group,” said Draisaitl, who also scored to win Game 1 in OT. “We’re never going to quit no matter what. We’ll take it and go home.”
Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for Florida, while Anton Lundell added another goal in the first period. However, the Panthers were unable to maintain their early lead against the determined Oilers.
The Edmonton Oilers‘ ability to overcome adversity and secure the Stanley Cup Final Game 4 victory highlights their determination to win the Stanley Cup.
What’s next
The series now shifts to Edmonton for Game 5 on Saturday night, with both teams vying for a crucial lead in the best-of-seven series.