Top Standouts From 2025 Stanley Cup Final Game 1

The Edmonton Oilers pulled off a thrilling comeback to steal Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, beating the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime.

Leon Draisaitl played hero, scoring both the game’s first goal and the overtime winner on Edmonton’s 46th shot of the night.

It wasn’t an easy path to victory. After Draisaitl’s early goal got the home crowd buzzing, Florida stormed back with three straight goals – two from Sam Bennett and one from Brad Marchand – to take a commanding lead.

But the Oilers weren’t done yet.

Viktor Arvidsson cut the deficit to 3-2 early in the second period, and Mattias Ekholm’s snapshot tied things up, setting the stage for overtime drama.

Bennett was absolutely dominant for Florida, pushing his playoff goal total to 12 – the most ever by a Panther in a single postseason. He was a constant menace around the net, making life difficult for Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner.

Speaking of goalies, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky faced a barrage of shots, nearly 50 in total. While he’d probably want a couple goals back, Bob made some spectacular saves to keep his team in it.

The game showed why these teams made it to the Final. Speed, skill, and plenty of physical play – especially against Draisaitl, who was targeted all night by Florida’s defense.

Some unsung heroes stepped up big time. Kasperi Kapanen, who the Oilers grabbed off waivers earlier this season, picked up two assists. Jake Walman played through pain after blocking a hard shot, showing the kind of sacrifice that defines playoff hockey.

For Florida, Niko Mikkola and Gustav Forsling were rocks on defense, blocking shots and making life tough for Edmonton’s skilled forwards.

It’s just Game 1, but if this is any indication of what’s to come, hockey fans are in for a treat. The series continues Saturday night in Edmonton, where the Panthers will try to bounce back and steal one on the road.

This marks the second straight series where Florida’s dropped the opener. They’ve shown they can recover – but doing it against this red-hot Oilers team might be their toughest challenge yet.