EDMONTON, Alberta — Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winner on a power play in overtime, and goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 29 shots as the Edmonton Oilers stormed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the defending champion Florida Panthers, 4–3, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night.
Draisaitl capitalized 19:29 into overtime after Florida’s Tomas Nosek was penalized for delay of game, igniting a roaring celebration at Rogers Place. The clutch finish ensured Edmonton wouldn’t suffer the same fate as last year, when they fell behind 0–3 in the series. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since 1993 — a drought the Oilers are desperate to end.
It didn’t always look promising. After Draisaitl opened the scoring just 66 seconds in, the momentum shifted when Florida’s Sam Bennett tied it with a deflection past Skinner. Edmonton challenged for goaltender interference, but the NHL’s situation room ruled the contact was caused by Edmonton’s own Jake Walman tripping Bennett — resulting in a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Brad Marchand gave Florida the lead, and Bennett struck again early in the second period to make it 3–1.
Historically, that spelled trouble: under coach Paul Maurice, the Panthers were 31–0 in the past three postseasons when leading after one or two periods. But Edmonton, led by Connor McDavid, flipped the script.
Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson narrowed the gap with a second-period goal, and defenseman Mattias Ekholm — in just his second game back from injury — tied it midway through the third on a pinpoint feed from McDavid.
Skinner held strong in the final minutes, with timely saves to prevent Florida from reclaiming the lead. Sergei Bobrovsky answered with big stops of his own, including a stunner on Trent Frederic in overtime, but couldn’t deny Draisaitl the winner.
Chants of “Stuuuu” echoed through the arena with each Skinner save, while a less friendly “Sergei! Sergei!” taunted the Panthers’ goaltender after each goal surrendered.
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday in Edmonton.
