SUNRISE, Fla. — In a thrilling matchup at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, the Panthers initially looked primed for victory but faced a stunning defeat. The game started with the defending champions, the Panthers, asserting their dominance with a 3-0 lead, showcasing a formidable play by Matthew Tkachuk and Florida’s key players.
However, the tide turned as Edmonton, with its seasoned players, unleashed a fierce response, overturning the deficit with four consecutive goals to lead 4-3. Despite this setback, Florida didn’t falter and managed to tie the game in its dying moments, thanks to a goal from Sam Reinhart, pushing the game into overtime. Jubilance for the Panthers was short-lived as Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers delivered the crushing blow, scoring at 11:18 into the extra period to secure a 5-4 victory and level the series at 2-2.
The staggering comeback by Edmonton negated what earlier seemed like a straightforward path for the Panthers, who were just a victory away from being one step closer to claiming another Stanley Cup title. Reflecting on the game, Tkachuk observed, “We dominated in the first, they did in the second. Special teams had ups and downs, but the contest was fierce. The game’s nature dictated that even a strong start doesn’t guarantee a win.”
The series continues to be a testament to close competition between two veteran teams whose resilience is evident in their back-and-forth exchanges. Impressively, three of the four games in the series have extended into overtime, marking this Stanley Cup Final as one of the most closely contested in recent history.
Florida’s coach, Paul Maurice, acknowledged the intensity and fierce determination on display, noting the rapid play and how every aspect of the game was charged with potential. “It’s fast-paced, and each moment counts,” he remarked. Even amid a collapse, Florida’s tenacity was evident when Reinhart’s last-second equalizer almost turned it around. His goal, with just 19.5 seconds left, became the second-latest tying goal on record for the series, surpassed only by Corey Perry’s equalizer in Game 2.
Despite the early power-play goals by Tkachuk and Anton Lundell contributing to their initial lead, Florida found themselves in unfamiliar territory. Never before had they allowed a three-goal lead in postseason history to so dramatically slip away. Heading into Thursday, among Stanley Cup Final teams, they were unbeaten when leading by three or more goals in the first period. In the aftermath, Tkachuk reflected on the disconnection he felt had crept into the Panthers’ game, with Reinhart agreeing that the team had become too passive.
On the other end, Edmonton’s spirited resurgence was fueled by goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, and Vasily Podkolzin, marking the Oilers as the seventh team in NHL history to triumph despite facing an initial three-goal shortfall in the Stanley Cup Final. A critical decision by Edmonton’s coach Kris Knoblauch to replace starting goaltender Stuart Skinner after the first-period setbacks appeared to shift momentum decisively in their favor.
Though the Panthers faced disappointment, they have historically rebounded strongly from such setbacks this postseason, demonstrating a penchant for rising to the occasion when stakes soar. Reaching their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final has instilled Florida with the resolve to fight back when under duress. Reinhart expressed confidence, sharing, “The more you encounter these situations, the more you learn. It’s an experience that teaches resilience, preparing us to bounce back for Game 5.”