Draisaitl’s Overtime Heroics Ignite Oilers in Stanley Cup Final Opener
What a night it was in Edmonton! Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final delivered every bit of drama and intensity we hoped for, and Leon Draisaitl was the man of the moment. With just 31 seconds left in overtime, Draisaitl buried a clutch power-play goal to give the Oilers a thrilling 4–3 comeback win over the Florida Panthers. It was the perfect start to a rematch filled with unfinished business.
Right from the first puck drop, the Oilers looked dialed in. Just 66 seconds into the game, Draisaitl pounced on a juicy rebound and scored the fastest goal in a Cup Final in nearly 50 years. That early strike set the tone, even though Florida came storming back. The Panthers responded with two quick goals, including one after Edmonton’s failed goalie interference challenge, and then stretched their lead to 3–1 early in the second period.
But here’s where the Oilers showed their grit. Viktor Arvidsson answered right back less than two minutes later, cutting the deficit to one. Then, in the third, with momentum clearly shifting, Connor McDavid found Mattias Ekholm sneaking in from the blue line, and Ekholm made no mistake, tying it up at 3–3.
Also Read:- Rory McIlroy Breaks Silence on PGA Media Snub and Driver Switch
- Cody Gakpo’s Bayern Munich Talks Signal Bigger Play at Liverpool
The third period was all Edmonton — they outshot Florida 14–2 — but Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was unbelievable, stopping almost everything that came his way. Almost. Because in OT, with Florida’s Tomas Nosek in the box for delay of game, McDavid slipped a perfect pass across the crease and Draisaitl blasted it home for the win.
What’s wild is that Draisaitl didn’t score a single goal in last year’s final. This year? He’s already got two in Game 1, including that iconic OT winner. He also became just the fifth player in NHL history with three overtime goals in a single postseason.
Stuart Skinner was solid between the pipes for Edmonton, stopping 29 shots, and was quick to point out how much it means to get a Game 1 win — especially considering the Oilers dropped the first three games of last year’s final against this very same Panthers squad.
Florida isn’t backing down, though. Sam Bennett had two goals, setting a franchise record for most goals in a single postseason. He also tied an NHL record for most road goals in one playoff run. That team’s experience is no joke — they’re in their third straight Stanley Cup Final, and they know how to bounce back.
But for now, it’s advantage Oilers. The win was hard-earned, gritty, and packed with character. And with Draisaitl and McDavid in full playoff mode, Edmonton just might be rewriting last year’s painful ending into something much more golden.
Game 2 is coming up fast, and if this opener was any sign, we’re in for a classic.
Read More:
0 Comments