Like a call from the famous Bob Cole, Game 4 was surely one for the history books. It had seemed that Jake Walman had done it for the Edmonton Oilers late in the third period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. It had been a tipsy-turvy road game, coming in down 2-1. Then, to keep the storyline going, Sam Reinhart found room short side, sending the game to extra time. With the game in Florida, it was looking rather dire for the Oilers. But this, what happened next, might just be destiny.
Players to score 2 Overtime goals in one #StanleyCup Final series
Don Raleigh 1950 Rangers
John LeClair 1993 Canadiens
Leon Draisaitl 2025 Oilers pic.twitter.com/ftLiAtGDaW— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 13, 2025
The Game 4 Recap Oilers and Panthers 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final
Thanks to Leon Draisaitl driving hard to the net, and a redirection off Niko Mikkola, the Oilers had their OT winner. Moreover, the Edmonton Oilers are the first team to battle back to win a Stanley Cup Final game being down 3-0 since 2006. The previous teams had been 37-0. However, you have to go back to 1919 since a road team accomplished the feat. Also, Calvin Pickard is now 7-0 this postseason, after his 22-save effort in relief. But just how did we get here?
Oilers look to become the first road team to rally from a 3-goal deficit & win a #StanleyCup Final game since the Montreal Canadiens at the Seattle Metropolitans in Game 5, 1919
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 13, 2025
The game started with much anticipation. Stuart Skinner started the game out on fire. Shots were 10-2 about half way into the first period. However, the Panthers then turned it all around. Around halfway through the first period, Evander Kane took a penalty. The penalty problems had begun, and led to the opening goal being a 5-on-3 variety. It ended up being Matthew Tkachuk‘s period as his first two goals, and then it was topped off by an Anton Lundell marker, the game was three-zip. It was not looking good back in Oil Country.
The second period began, both sides wondering which way the tide would turn. You knew a 3-0 game would be highly susceptible to a momentum swing. Especially a game in such a pivotal game to the series as an entirety.
Then, the Comeback
However, as it shifted to the second period of play and the Oilers did begin with an early power play, could everything possibly be shifting? Then, at that very moment, a goal rang in by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The second period was amazingly gritty, to come back by three. Each goal seemed to be from sheer will and a willingness to battle back.
The frantic action continued. Calvin Pickard made a big save at one end. Then on another power play where Sergei Bobrovsky would rob a Connor McDavid slapshot rebound opportunity by Corey Perry, who tried to tuck it in along the ice. The game remained tied with ten minutes to go.
The Finale Was Intense
The last moments saw some tremendous action. It was hard to image that Walman had given the Oilers the lead and quieted the Sunrise, Florida crowd. In contrast, you knew the final moments would be dramatic. It was at only 19:40 to play in the third, yes, 20 seconds to go, that Reinhart tied it. It could’ve spelled disaster for the Oilers.
Even the overtime saw a couple glourious chances, at either end. It wasn’t until Draisaitl hopped on the ice. At that same moment, Mattias Ekholm fired a pass up the left-wing boards to Vasily Podkolzin. Guess who was waiting on the opposite boards, Dr. Drai himself. He drove the net, and the rest as they say is history. Back to warm plains of Alberta for Game 5, series tied 2-2.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
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