By Michael Russo, Daniel Nugent-Bowman, and Chris Johnston
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Edmonton Oilers narrowly avoided a potentially crippling defeat on Thursday night after Sam Reinhart forced overtime by scoring with just 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation, erasing a three-goal deficit in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
However, at 11:18 of the overtime period, Leon Draisaitl netted his NHL-record fourth overtime goal of the playoffs, sealing a dramatic 5-4 victory for the Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. This win tied the series at two games each, setting the stage for potential Game 5 in Edmonton on Saturday.
Draisaitl, who also scored the overtime winner in Game 1, became the fifth player in NHL history to achieve multiple overtime goals in a single Stanley Cup Final.
“I think that once again it tells you that our group never quits,” Draisaitl said. “I think we believe that no matter how bad it is, if we get over that hump of adversity, we’re going to keep pushing, we’re going to keep coming, and eventually it’ll break. You don’t want to be in these situations too many times, but when they happen I think we’re great at it.”
Reinhart’s goal was set up after Jake Walman had briefly given Edmonton a 4-3 lead with a powerful one-timer six minutes into the final period. Calvin Pickard continued his impressive playoff performance, stepping in for Stuart Skinner and making 23 saves, improving his postseason record to 7-0. He is now the sixth goaltender in NHL history to earn a relief win in the Stanley Cup Final, and the fourth Oilers netminder to achieve victory in seven consecutive playoff decisions.
“We have extreme confidence in both of our goalies,” said Walman. “Calvin coming in, I couldn’t be happier for him. That’s a tough position to come in. The game’s 3-0 and he’s got to grind, too. He’s cold. I guess it just shows that anybody at any time can have an impact. We’re pumped for Calvin and proud of him.”
With this win, the Oilers became the seventh team in NHL history, and the first since the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes, to overcome a three-goal deficit in the Stanley Cup Final. It marked the first time that such a comeback occurred on the road since the Montreal Canadiens did it in 1919.
Historically, this game marked the sixth occasion where the Oilers rallied from three goals down in a playoff match.
In another twist, after taking four penalties in the first period during the previous game, the Oilers again found themselves in penalty trouble, committing three infractions in the opening frame of Game 4. Matthew Tkachuk capitalized on this, scoring two power-play goals before Anton Lundell added another.
However, the momentum shifted in the second period as the Panthers incurred three minor penalties. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins initiated the comeback with a power-play goal early in the second, followed by Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin scoring within a span of 2:18, stunning the Florida crowd.
Reinhart’s tying goal occurred after a pass to Tkachuk was mishandled, allowing Reinhart to reclaim the puck and score. This series now features the two latest tying goals in Stanley Cup Final history, following Corey Perry’s equalizer in Game 2, which came with just 17.8 seconds remaining.
“I don’t think it’s too hard to reset,” Reinhart commented. “It’s just the way the bounces go sometimes.”
This Stanley Cup Final has now seen three or more games go to overtime, marking the eighth such instance in history, with previous occurrences noted in the years 2014, 2013, 1993, 1951, 1950, 1946, and 1940.
Draisaitl’s two assists, alongside his goal, further solidified his position as one of the greats, making him only the fifth player in NHL history to record 30 points in consecutive postseasons. He joins the ranks of Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Mario Lemieux, and Wayne Gretzky in this accomplishment. Draisaitl is also the first European-born player to achieve three 30-point playoff seasons. Only Gretzky, McDavid, and Mark Messier have recorded such statistics across multiple playoffs.
Additionally, Draisaitl became the second player in NHL history to register 10 goals and 20 assists in different postseason campaigns, a feat Gretzky accomplished five times.
Walman’s goal came shortly after he received a $10,000 fine for an altercation in the previous game against Tkachuk.
In a notable statistic, this marks the third instance in Stanley Cup Final history where teams have combined for seven or more goals in each of the first four games of the series.
Takeaways from Thursday night highlight both the pivotal goaltending decisions and the resilience of both teams. Skinner’s previous excellence in Game 4s came to a halt as he allowed three goals in the first period before Pickard took over.
“It’s hard to describe,” Draisaitl admitted about Pickard’s performance. “The situation that he gets put in sometimes, they’re not always easy. Like we’re down 3-0, he’s coming in, he’s cold. It’s not easy. He makes those stops at the key moments that we really need them.”
The matchup between the Oilers and Panthers has seen both teams wrestle for control, with the Panthers holding a historically strong lead when leading after periods, a record now compromised due to the Oilers’ comeback ability. This resilience has become evident throughout their playoff journey, highlighting their experience and determination.
“It’s all experience, right?” Draisaitl noted. “You just get comfortable in those situations knowing that you play one good game, you find a way to get a win on the road, and you go home and the series is tied. That’s really all it is.”
Tkachuk, recovering from an earlier injury, had a strong performance with two goals, especially noting his quick scoring success in the first period. His contributions are notable as he climbs the ranks among U.S.-born NHL players for career playoff points.
Despite the Oilers’ penalty issues, which plagued them again in this match, the outcome keeps the mystery of Game 5 alive, with both teams exhibiting moments of brilliance and struggle throughout the series.
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)