Oilers Defeat Panthers 4-3 OT Game 1 Stanley Cup Final

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, reversing the previous year's outcome where the Panthers won the championship. The Panthers held a 3-1 lead early in the game but allowed the Oilers to score three consecutive goals, including the game-winning power-play goal by Leon Draisaitl late in overtime. Florida's Tomas Nosek took a crucial delay of game penalty by shooting the puck over the glass in overtime, directly leading to Draisaitl's winning goal. Panthers players, including Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, acknowledged that sitting back with the lead was a mistake, contrasting their usual playoff strength where they had been undefeated when leading after the first or second period in recent years. The Oilers capitalized on their chances with key contributions from Connor McDavid and Mattias Ekholm, demonstrating resilience and determination in front of their home crowd in Edmonton. Both teams are preparing to continue the tightly contested series, with the Panthers seeking to rebound and the Oilers aiming to build momentum toward the Stanley Cup.