Oilers, Panthers Deadlocked After Overtime Thrillers

The Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers have been marked by dramatic overtime finishes in both opening games. In Game 1, Edmonton won in overtime after Leon Draisaitl scored following a late penalty by Florida's Tomas Nosek. Game 2 saw veteran Corey Perry tie the game with 17.8 seconds left—the latest in Finals history—but Florida's Brad Marchand scored the double-overtime winner, evening the series at 1-1. Perry, who turned 40 during the playoffs, has amassed eight goals and 12 points, providing critical leadership for the Oilers. The series now heads back to Florida for Games 3 and 4. Fans and analysts have widely praised Perry's heroics and the overall excitement of the closely contested series.