Oilers Take Game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals with 4-3 Overtime Win

Leon Draisaitl scored a power play goal with 31 seconds left in overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals in Edmonton on June 4th. It was Draisaitl’s second goal of the game; he opened the scoring just 1:06 into the first period with his first goal.

After Draisaitl’s opening goal, the Panthers reeled off three unanswered goals, including two by Sam Bennett. But Edmonton Goalie Stuart Skinner, who has been excellent since giving up four third period goals in Game 2 of the semifinals against Dallas, shut the door after that. He had 29 saves. A goal by Viktor Arvidsson brought the Oilers to within one through the 2nd period. Mattias Ekholm scored his first goal of the post season in the third, and it headed to overtime, where Draisaitl send the sellout crowd home happy.

Connor McDavid had a pair of assists, including one on the game winning goal. Kaspen Kapanen also had two assists for Edmonton and Carter Verhaeghe had a pair for the Panthers. This is certainly a better start for Edmonton in the Finals this year; last year, the Panthers won the first three games before the Oilers won the next three. Florida then won the Cup by winning Game 7. The Oilers have taken the first step in avenging last years loss to the Panthers, and will try to go up 2-0 in Game 2 on June 6th.