Leon Draisaitl scores to lead the Oilers to victory in Game 1 against the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

Oilers Win Game 1 in Overtime Against Panthers

EDMONTON, Alberta – In a thrilling Stanley Cup final showdown, Leon Draisaitl netted a power-play goal in overtime, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-3 victory over the defending champion Florida Panthers on Wednesday night. Stuart Skinner showcased his skills with 29 saves, helping the Oilers bounce back from a previously significant deficit.

Fans erupted when Draisaitl scored at 19:29 of the overtime period, following a penalty against Thomas Nosek for putting the puck in the glass. This win marks a much better start for the Oilers compared to their previous year’s series opener.

Initially, it looked as though the Oilers might struggle again. Draisaitl had opened the scoring mere moments into the game, only for Sam Bennett to later deflect a shot past Skinner after colliding with a teammate.

Upon reviewing the play, the NHL situation room noted that Bennett had inadvertently tripped over Jake Walman, leading to a penalty that allowed Florida’s Brad Marchand to strike with a power-play goal.

Early in the second period, Bennett extended Florida’s lead, making it 3-1. Under the guidance of coach Paul Maurice, the Panthers had been an impressive 31-0 in the playoffs when taking the first or second lead.

Oilers Make a Comeback

Conor McDavid spearheaded the Oilers’ attempts to rally. Viktor Arvidsson, a fourth-liner, ignited the crowd when he scored with 13:27 left in the second, tapping in a perfect pass from McDavid. This moment felt uplifting and pivotal for the team.

Skinner made crucial saves throughout the game, especially in the third period, ensuring the Panthers couldn’t gain momentum or retake the lead.

On the flip side, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky was met with chants of “Sergei! Sergei!” from the crowd following the goals he conceded. Meanwhile, Skinner was cheered on with “stuuuu” whenever he made exceptional saves.