Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scored a power-play goal with 31 seconds left in the first overtime period of Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final to give his team a 1-0 series lead over the defending champion Florida Panthers. That was his team-leading ninth goal of the postseason.
“Obviously, I’m standing over there watching this whole thing unfold, and I’m the beneficiary, but the work is done way before that,” Draisaitl said during the postgame press conference. “It’s four really good plays in a row.”
Draisaitl got the scoring going early in the first period to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead. However, the Panthers scored three unanswered goals in the first and second periods to go up 3-1.
LEOVERTIME 🇩🇪 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/x2MC5l3s0I
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 5, 2025
“There’s gonna be times [where] each team has their pushes,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “To think that we’re just gonna dominate for 60 minutes is pretty naive from us. They’re a really good hockey team, and when they do have their pushes, hopefully, we can limit how long that is going to be.”
After Edmonton forward Viktor Arvidsson cut the lead to 3-2, 35-year-old defenseman Mattias Ekholm tied things up with less than 13:30 to go in the third period.
“Impressive to step in at the most difficult time of the year after missing time,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid of Ekholm, who has only started two playoff games this season. “It’s been a full team effort to get him back here to this point. Big goal, obviously.”
Ekholm’s scoring effort led to overtime, where Draisaitl scored his third OT goal of the playoffs, tying a record set by Corey Perry in 2017 and Matthew Tkachuk in 2023.
MATTIAS EKHOLM HAS HIS FIRST OF THE PLAYOFFS!! pic.twitter.com/v79ye0WyXK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2025
“He’s invaluable,” said McDavid. “He does so many good things. Clutch. Face-offs. You name it, he does it… When he’s dug in, there’s not many better. Maybe nobody better.”
“It’s tough to describe,” Draisaitl said when talking about scoring his third overtime goal of the postseason. “You’re obviously locked in, especially on the power play. You’re looking to finish it. Again, [there were] some incredible plays that made it pretty ‘easy’ for me to put that home. It’s a special feeling. It’s great for right now, but we’ve got to look ahead and get ready for Game Two.”
The Oilers will once again play host to the Florida Panthers in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday. Puck drop in that game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT.
