Oilers Script Stanley Cup Final History Following EPIC OT Win in Game 4

The Edmonton Oilers came back from 3-0 down in the first period of Game 4 to win 5-4 in overtime and leveled the series at 2-2.

Oilers Script Stanley Cup Final History Following EPIC OT Win in Game 4

Oilers celebrating Game 4 win (Image via CBC)

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers produced another magic moment in Game 4 on Thursday. The Oilers scripted a Stanley Cup Final piece of history as they came back from 3-0 down to win Game 4.

The Canadian-based outfit found themselves 3-0 down in the first period. Two goals from Matthew Tkachuk and one from Anton Lundell put the reigning Stanley Cup champions in a driving position in front of their fans at the Amerant Bank Arena in Florida.

The Oilers then came out firing in the second period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got them on board with a power-play goal. Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin followed up with those efforts to level it a 3-3 in the 2nd period itself.

With momentum on their side, the Oilers completed the comeback in the third period through Jake Walman. The Oilers’ No.96, who received a lot of flak and was fined for his actions in Game 3, put his side in front with around 7 minutes left to go.

The Panthers kept on fighting and forced overtime with a late goal from Sam Reinhart. The center player scored with just 19 seconds remaining in the game to tie it up at 4-4. This goal from him meant that for the 3rd time in 4 games, overtime was required to decide the winner.

Leon Draisaitl, who was the hero for his team in Game 1 of this series, once again took center stage. The German international popped up again for his side and managed to squeeze his backhanded shot beyond the Panthers’ goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, to give his team a 5-4 win.

This saw the Oilers become the 7th team in NHL history to come back from 3-0 down in a Stanley Cup final game and emerge as the winners. They are, however, the 1st team to come back and win while being 3-0 down in the 1st period.

Previously, teams had a 37-0 record when they were 3 or more goals up in the 1st period. That record now stands at 37-1 with the Oilers being the one.

Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard labels Leon Draisaitl as ‘clutch’ player following his heroics in Game 4

Leon Draisaitl stole the headlines once again as he scored another overtime winner for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4. Following the game, goaltender Calvin Pickard labeled his teammate as a “clutch” player.

Oilers' Leon Draisaitl and Calvin Pickard
Leon Draisaitl and Calvin Pickard (Image via Imago/Oilers Daily)

Pickard came into the game after Stuart Skinner was taken out. The former would replace the latter at the start of the 2nd period and went on to make 22 saves in this game.

After the game, he would sit beside Draisaitl in the press conference. During this, he would praise the German international for his performances and pointed out how he always score big goals at big times.

He’s as clutch as it gets… He’s been playing great, always scores big goals at big times, and we’re going home with momentum.

This was Draisaitl’s 4th overtime winner of these playoffs. He first scored an OT winner in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. His second was against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the second-round series.

Last week, he scored in overtime in Game 1. His goal that day capped off a 4-3 win for the Oilers. His strike partner and captain, Connor McDavid, would later claim that he was invaluable.

Following this goal, the two Oilers forwards are now tied for the total number of points in these playoffs at 32. If the Oilers do end up winning the cup, the Conn Smythe trophy for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the playoffs could go to either one of them.

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