The Florida Panthers seemed poised for a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final after jumping out to a 3-0 first-period advantage over the Edmonton Oilers. But what unfolded was one of the most remarkable comebacks in NHL championship history.
Down three goals on the road, the Oilers stormed back to score four unanswered goals and take a 4-3 lead. Though the Panthers managed to equalize in the final moments of regulation, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl delivered the game-winner 11:18 into overtime, capping off a thrilling 5-4 win that tied the series at two games apiece.
It was a night that rewrote the history books. Edmonton became the first road team in 106 years to overcome a three-goal deficit and win in a Stanley Cup Final game, a feat last achieved by the Montreal Canadiens in 1919. This marked only the sixth time ever that a team has recovered from such a deficit in the Final.
The series, now heading back to Edmonton, has been fiercely contested. Three of the four games have gone into overtime, underscoring how evenly matched these two resilient teams are. Each moment has felt decisive, every battle along the boards potentially game-changing.
The Panthers came out strong in Game 4, with Matthew Tkachuk scoring twice on the power play and Anton Lundell adding another to build a seemingly insurmountable lead. But after the first intermission, the momentum shifted drastically. The Oilers responded with a ferocious second period, getting goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, and Vasily Podkolzin to level the score before taking the lead in the third.
Florida managed to force overtime thanks to Sam Reinhart’s goal with just 19.5 seconds left in regulation the second-latest tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history. But in the end, Draisaitl’s heroics silenced the home crowd and energized Oilers fans who had traveled south.
The Panthers had never previously blown a three-goal lead in the postseason, and teams were 37-0 in Stanley Cup Final history when leading by three or more goals in the first period. That streak is now broken.
Adding to the spectacle were the presence of celebrities and sports legends. Among those watching were Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, who drew attention during the first period. Hockey greats Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, and Henrik Lundqvist were also in attendance, as were Miami sports icons.
Despite the loss, Florida has shown resilience throughout the playoffs and will look to regroup for Game 5. With the series now a best-of-three, both teams are digging deep, knowing full well that every shift could define the path to the Cup.
