Historic Oilers Rally in Game 4: Paving the Way Towards Potential Stanley Cup Glory
Living on the Edge:
Miami, FL - The Stanley Cup Final games of years past have left an indelible mark, and if the Edmonton Oilers manage to clinch two more victories, June 12, 2025, will undoubtedly be no exception. A rollercoaster ride for fans and players alike, this game was nothing short of spectacular.
The Florida Panthers held a commanding 3-0 lead at the first interval. Just when it seemed like Canada's 32-year Cup drought might continue, a surprising goalie switch ignited the Oilers. Four unanswered goals followed, all leading up to the nail-biting moment when Sam Reinhart tied it with a mere 19.5 seconds left, adding fuel to Edmonton's fire. And in the ultimate show of grit, Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winner 11 minutes and 18 seconds into overtime.
Absolutely wild.
The silence in the Oilers' dressing room following the thrilling night was deafening, speaking volumes about the intensity and determination present. The team felt the weight of the moment, teetering on the brink of possibly changing everything. Maybe, just maybe.
Their season was not on the line, but the belief in their ability to win the Cup was. That's how the Oilers felt after a tough second period.
"Oh, yeah, it sure does," said Darnell Nurse, who scored to make it 3-2 in the second period. "The pressure of the playoffs is high; the pressure of the Stanley Cup finals is yet another level. We needed to up our game in the second period, and we managed to do just that."
The first 20 minutes were a struggle for Edmonton: penalty trouble, lackluster play, getting overwhelmed for the fourth straight period starting from Game 3, and it felt like the series had all but ended.
Yet hope remained.
"There was no panic at all," said Jake Walman of the scene in the dressing room after those dismal 20 minutes. "It was almost strange. A quiet confidence, knowing that as a team, we were going to come back in this game. There was no doubt about it, I think, from our group."
Resilient comeback specialists, the Oilers have now tallied eight victories from behind in these playoffs, tying a franchise record.
"We all know that it's never over with this group," superstar Connor McDavid said earlier in the series.
A little motivation didn't hurt. During the intermission, 40-year-old winger Corey Perry addressed his teammates, urging them to come to their senses and get to work.
"Just get to work, honestly," Nurse said of Perry's speech. "The tone might have been a little different. But just, 'Let's put our heads down and get to work.'"
Perry's words, laced with experience, leadership, and respect, struck a chord with the players.
"He's a guy that everybody in that room respects a great deal; he's been through it all," said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. "When he speaks up like that, it means a lot. And we did a good job responding."
This comeback victory against the NHL's top closers adds to the drama of the evening. The Panthers boasted a 31-0 record under head coach Paul Maurice when leading after the first or second period in the playoffs over the past three years. The Oilers have already snapped two such winning streaks in this series alone.
But let's not sugarcoat it. In the first 20 minutes, the Oilers looked cooked. There was no evidence suggesting a 5-4 overtime win was even a possibility.
"Once again, it just shows you that our group never quits, right?" Draisaitl said. "We believe that no matter how bad it is, if we break through that wall of adversity, we're going to keep pushing, we're going to keep coming, and we're going to keep coming. Eventually, it'll break.
"We don't want to be in these situations too many times, but when they happen, I think we're great at it."
Game 4 also brought the quality of this Stanley Cup Final back into focus. Three overtime games, two juggernaut teams fighting tooth and nail, and the Panthers looking invincible after Game 3. Now, the question remains of just how rattled they're going to be after Game 4.
Back and forth, the games have gone. Phenomenal drama.
"Best of three. It's fantastic for the fans," Maurice said after the game. "Truly, I felt this way about the series last year: I think it's fantastic for the game."
The Oilers now have two out of the next three games at home. The Panthers are the reigning road kings. This thing could still go so many ways.
But what's apparent is the intensity of both teams, making each other uncomfortable at times. It's more than just a game; it's a battle of wills.
"I think we focus on the mistakes made by good players sometimes and miss the heart and soul, the intensity," Maurice said. "It's fast; every puck battle matters. So there's mental intensity, mental toughness both teams show. The game isn't over until it's over."
With a dramatic comeback victory under their belts, the Oilers can breathe again. Game 4 was a must-win, and it was delivered with flair.
"A long way to go. We're just excited to play in front of our fans again," Nugent-Hopkins said. "It's going to be a crazy atmosphere at Rogers Place."
It certainly will be. In this intense series, the games continue to deliver sensational drama that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
The intensity continued to escalate in the hockey world, with the Edmonton Oilers securing a thrilling come-from-behind victory against the NHL's top closers, the Florida Panthers, in the Stanley Cup Final. The game was another nail-biting encounter in the best-of-seven series, proving that the Oilers are resilient comeback specialists, having already snapped two winning streaks in this series alone.
