Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal at 19:29 of the first overtime period lifted the host Edmonton Oilers to a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place.
The goal was Draisaitl’s second of the game and ninth of the playoffs. Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm also scored for the Oilers, who battled back from a 3-1 deficit for the win. Sam Bennett (2) and Brad Marchand scored for the defending-champion Panthers. Stuart Skinner made 29 saves to earn the win in goal. Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves for the Panthers.
LEON DRAISAITL WINS GAME 1 IN @ENERGIZER OVERTIME FOR THE EDMONTON OILERS‼️ #StanleyCup pic.x.com/sFdPUR6WcP
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2025
Edmonton opened the scoring just 1:06 into the game. Draisaitl scored his eighth of the playoffs, winning a board battle, then knocking home a rebound after a point shot from Jake Walman.
Florida equalized at 10:49 of the first period, when Bennett was credited with his 11th of the playoffs after a Carter Verhaeghe shot deflected off him past Skinner. The Oilers unsuccessfully challenge for goaltender interference and were then penalized for delay of game.
On the ensuing power play, Marchand converted a nice feed from Nate Schmidt and fired a shot over the outstretched glove of Skinner. Marchand has five goals so far during this playoff run.
Edmonton outshot the Panthers 14-7 in the period.
Two minutes into the second frame, Bennett made it 3-1 Panthers, converting another Schmidt pass and beating Skinner blocker side.
Just 77 seconds later, Arvidsson pulled the Oilers within one at 3-2, scoring his second of the playoffs, converting a drop pass from Vasily Podkolzin and rifling a long shot past Bobrovsky.
Shots in the period were 17-8 Panthers.
Edmonton pulled even at 3-3 at the 6:33 mark of the third, when Ekholm scored his first of the playoffs, moving in from the left point to finish off a feed from Connor McDavid.
Shots after three periods favoured the Oilers, 36-26.
Edmonton’s late power play in the first OT period came when Tomas Nosek was penalized at 18:17 for delay of game after clearing the puck untouched over the protective glass. Draisaitl converted a pass from McDavid for the game-winner.
Game 2 goes Friday night in Edmonton.
NOTES: The series marks the 12th rematch in Stanley Cup Final history. The Panthers defeated the Oilers in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup championship last year… Heading into the game, the Oilers were 6-1 at home in the playoffs and the Panthers 8-2 on the road… Teams that win Game 1 of the final have gone on to win the Cup 76.5 per cent of the time (65-20), including in each of the past four years.
