Draisaitl’s OT Winner Lifts Oilers In Game 1 Of NHL Finals Rematch

The 2025 NHL Finals kicked off with a thrilling Game 1 between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. In a dramatic overtime finish, the Oilers secured a 4–3 victory, taking a 1–0 series lead.

NHL Finals Game 1 Recap: Oilers Edge Panthers in Overtime Thriller

Game 1 of the Finals featured a rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. This is only the second rematch in the Finals in 40 years with the other being in '08 and '09 between the Detroit Redwings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Oilers emerged victorious with a 4–3 overtime win, thanks to Leon Draisaitl's game-winning power-play goal with only 31 seconds left in OT. Edmonton had initially taken an early lead with Draisaitl scoring just 66 seconds into the game. However, the Panthers responded with goals from Sam Bennett, who netted two to capture the franchise record for most goals in a single postseason at 12, and Brad Marchand, giving Florida a 3–1 advantage. This made the Panthers the first team in NHL history to score 50 road goals in a single playoffs. The Oilers then rallied with goals from Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm to tie the game. The Oilers' goaltender Stuart Skinner made 29 saves, while his advisory Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 but couldn't keep out the final shot.

The Oilers now sit in a desired position up 1-0 in the series, as winners of Game 1 in the Finals have gone on to win 76% of the time.

Game 2 Preview: Panthers Aim to Even the Series

The Panthers will look to bounce back in Game 2, scheduled for Friday, June 6 in Edmonton. Florida will aim to tighten their defense and capitalize on scoring opportunities to avoid falling into a 2–0 series deficit. This is new ground for the Panthers though as last year's matchup didn't have any overtime games and they went up 3-0 in the series before winning it in 7 games. The Oilers, on the other hand, will seek to maintain their momentum and leverage their home-ice advantage to extend their lead in the series.

Pregame Sports Bar Crawl: Las Vegas Edition

Experience the excitement of the game with our Pregame Sports pub crawl in Las Vegas! Join fellow fans for exclusive drink specials at some of the city's best sports bars. It's the ultimate way to gear up for game night—whether you're cheering for your team or just in it for the fun. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and exclusive deals!