Draisaitl’s Overtime Heroics Lift Oilers to Game 4 Win, Tie Stanley Cup Final
Leon Draisaitl scored the overtime winner for the fourth time in these playoffs, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a dramatic 5–4 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night. The Oilers erased a three-goal deficit and overcame a crushing late equalizer to even the series at two games apiece.
Defenseman Jake Walman gave Edmonton its first lead of the night with 6:24 remaining in regulation, but Florida’s Sam Reinhart tied it with just 19.5 seconds left, sending the game into overtime. It marked the third time in four games that this final has gone to extra time—a feat not seen since 2013 and only the fifth time in NHL history.
Draisaitl sealed the win 11:18 into overtime, capping the fourth OT period between the two teams and sending the series back to Edmonton tied 2–2. Game 5, in what has become a tightly contested, back-and-forth series, is set for Saturday night in Alberta.
“It was a lucky bounce—no secret there. But we’ll take it,” Draisaitl said after the game. “We’re a resilient group. We’re not going to quit, no matter what. We didn’t like our first period, but we got our legs going after that. That’s the intensity we need from the start.”
With that goal, Draisaitl set a new NHL playoff record for most overtime goals in a single postseason, surpassing a four-way tie that included Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk (2023), current teammate Corey Perry (2017 with Anaheim), and the legendary Maurice Richard (1951). It was also his second overtime goal of the Final, putting him in elite company with players like Montreal’s John LeClair (1993) and the Rangers’ Don Raleigh (1950).
The Oilers also made history as the first road team to come back from a three-goal deficit to win a Stanley Cup Final game since the Montreal Canadiens did it against the Seattle Metropolitans in 1919. Only six teams in NHL history have managed such a comeback in the Final, with the most recent being in 2006.
It was a night of wild swings for Edmonton, who trailed 3–0 after the first period following two goals by Matthew Tkachuk and a late one from Anton Lundell. With starter Stuart Skinner allowing three goals on 17 shots, head coach Kris Knoblauch turned to backup Calvin Pickard—who hadn’t played since being sidelined by injury but had won all six of his prior playoff starts. Pickard delivered, making 18 consecutive saves to keep the Oilers in the game.
Edmonton began their comeback in the second period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins converted on the power play, Darnell Nurse beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a high shot, and Vasily Podkolzin tied the game at 3–3 with under five minutes remaining in the period.
Early in the third, with Draisaitl in the penalty box, the Oilers weathered a surge from the Panthers thanks to Pickard’s clutch goaltending. Then Walman put them ahead—at least temporarily—before Reinhart forced overtime.
In a star-studded arena that included Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, Henrik Lundqvist, Taylor Swift, and Travis Kelce, the Oilers refused to go quietly. Unlike last year, when they fell behind 3–1 in the Final before ultimately losing, Edmonton is now firmly back in the hunt.
With the series tied, both the Oilers and Panthers are now just two wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup. The stage is set for a thrilling finish.
