We’ve got quite a Stanley Cup Final on our hands.
The Edmonton Oilers erased a three-goal deficit in Game 4, defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to even the championship series at two games apiece.
Just like in Game 3, it was the Panthers who got on the scoreboard first.
With both Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse in the penalty box, Florida was able to quickly capitalize on the 5-on-3 opportunity.
Right off the ensuing faceoff, Matthew Tkachuk wired a shot past the blocker of a screened Stuart Skinner and into the net to give Florida a 1-0 lead with 8:20 left in the opening period.
Less than four minutes later, Mattias Ekholm was called for high-sticking Brad Marchand, giving the Panthers another power play.
A pretty passing play through the Oilers zone had the puck on Sam Reinhart’s stick in the slot, and while his shot was stopped by Skinner, Tkachuk was right there to pounce on the rebound to give Florida a 2-0 lead.
They weren’t done there.
During the final minute of the period, Carter Verhaeghe stole the puck from Troy Stecher behind Edmonton's net and fed a streaking Anton Lundell, who made no mistake, beating Skinner and sending Florida into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.
That would be all for Stuart Skinner. He was replaced by Calvin Pickard for the second straight game after surrendering three goals on 17 shots.
Also similarly to Game 3, an early second period power play would prove to be fruitful for the Oilers.
Sam Bennett was sent off for a slash, and a quick passing play found Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the left faceoff circle and he got the Oilers on the board 3:33 into the middle frame.
A sharp angle shot by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse went over Bob’s shoulder and into the top of the net, cutting the Panthers lead to 3-2 with just over seven minutes to go.
Shortly after that, right off a faceoff in Florida’s end, the rebound of a wraparound by Nurse found its way to the slot, where Visily Podkolzin sent a backhand bast Bobrovsky to tie the game at three.
Edmonton nearly took their first lead of the night when on a third period power play, but Bobrovsky came up with an incredible skate blade save on Corey Perry on the doorstep.
That first lead would come for the Oilers with 6:24 to go.
Jake Walman came down from the point and stepped into a one-timer that flew over Bobrovsky’s glove, putting Edmonton up 4-3 and further silencing the sellout crowd.
In the final minute, with Bobrovsky on the bench, Florida’s final push would pay off.
Sam Reinhart found the puck at the bottom of the left circle and fired it from a tight angle into a yawning cage with just 19.3 left in regulation.
The jubilation felt by the Panthers and their fans would be short lived, though.
Leon Draisaitl found the back of the net at 11:18 of the first overtime session, giving the Oilers an incredible comeback victory and tying the series a two games apiece.
On to Game 5.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Tkachuk’s goals were his first of the Final and sixth and seventh of the playoffs.
He’s racked up three goals and 11 points over his past nine games.
Sasha Barkov had the primary assist on Tkachuk’s PPG. It was Barkov’s first point of the Final and 18th of the postseason. He added another assist later in the game.
Lundell has points in three straight Final games, with a goal and three assist during the run.
Verhaeghe is riding a five-game points streak, with three goals and eight points over that stretch.
Reinhart has logged back-to-back multi-point outings. He had a goal and two assists in Game 4.
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Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) (not pictured) scores in overtime against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images