5 Takeaways From Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final

Before the Oilers' 4-3, Game 1 overtime win in Edmonton Wednesday, you might've been wondering how the 2025 Stanley Cup Final could compare to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Last season, we were treated to a pushback from the Oilers that forced a Game 7 on a Panthers team that previously held a 3-0 series lead.

What if I told you both of those teams are back and even better?

"[This series] has the potential to be a spectacular seven-gamer," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said after his team dropped Game 1. "There's not any casualness, and there's no BS in either team's game. It was honest, it was hard, it was fast, and it was tight. It was an overtime game."

It was indeed all of the above, and you noticed both teams' improvements since the last time they met here, making a significant impact.

Florida geared up for the rematch with more ratty scoring depth via noted pest Brad Marchand and a very hungry Seth Jones on defense. Edmonton is running a tighter ship defensively with the addition of Jake Walman, plus some savvy depth moves have made for a more balanced team overall.

Thus, we were treated to a raucous, ridiculously close Game 1. The constant back and forth was only ending one way: overtime at Rogers Place. It almost went to double overtime, but Leon Draisaitl cashed in on a power play for his second goal of the game with 31 seconds left in extra time.

Game 1 showed us an Oilers team with improved resilience and something to prove, and a confident Panthers team that will not be hitting the panic button anytime soon. Most of all, Game 1 showed us we're in for one heck of a rematch between the two best hockey teams in the world.

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Final, Leon Draisaitl

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Not only did Leon Draisaitl score his first career Stanley Cup Final goal to open scoring in the series, but he did it precisely 66 seconds into Game 1 on home ice. Spoiler alert: He bookended the game with his second career Stanley Cup Final goal with aforementioned OT GWG.

The Oilers lost by one goal in Game 7 last year, and you can chalk some of that up to bad bounces, a bad goaltending break, and a lack of depth scoring. However, Draisaitl did not score a single goal in last season's Final, and Edmonton just isn’t going to win a Stanley Cup without production from its top goal scorer. 

Draisaitl showed us a healthier and more prepared version of himself Wednesday, exorcising last year's demons and giving himself a clean slate with two goals in the process.

His tally to open Game 1 scoring 1:06 minutes in was the fastest opening goal of a Final in nearly 50 years and the sixth fastest of all time. His overtime game-winner? It was his third of the 2025 playoffs, tying the Stanley Cup Playoffs record for most overtime goals in one playoff year.

"He's invaluable, he does so many good things," said Connor McDavid, who assisted on Draisaitl's game-winner. "Clutch, face-offs, you name it he does it. He doesn't get enough respect or credit for his defensive abilities. When he's dug in there's not many -- maybe nobody -- better."

These Panthers and all their ratitude were not about to cower and surrender fewer than two minutes into Game 1. They answered with two quick goals in the first to hold onto the lead until the middle of the third period.

Still, Draisaitl showing up early and late immediately set a different tone for this season’s Stanley Cup Final. Edmonton’s top talent isn’t going down easily this year.

"It was a pretty nice power-play goal, too," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch smiled, reflecting on Draisaitl's game-winner.

Sam Bennett Continues His Villain Arc

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It didn't matter to Sam Bennett that Leon Draisaitl struck first, a mere 66 seconds into Game 1. It didn't matter to him that the Oilers mustered up a strong penalty kill to neutralize Corey Perry's first infraction of the game. It certainly didn't matter to him that the Panthers were on the road.

Sam Bennett is gonna Sam Bennett.

The leading goal-scorer of the 2025 playoffs stayed cool and got right to work early in the first, with a quintessential Bennett net-front equalizer. When we talk about his -- and his Panthers' -- ability to play on the edge, we're talking about the failed Oilers coaching challenge of Bennett's goal that turned into a Brad Marchand power-play goal and a lead Florida held onto until halfway through the third period.

The pending unrestricted free agent set a new franchise record Wednesday with his 12th goal of these playoffs, posting the second multi-goal performance by a Panthers player in a Stanley Cup Final game.

In a postseason where so many elite power forwards have struggled to maintain real estate in front of the net, Bennett's pesky game has transcended. He has the skill to make his net-front opportunities count. You could say Bennett has that dawg in him, but by the end of the playoff run he's currently having, we might legally have to change that phrase from "dawg" to "cat."

Marchand Trade Pays Off Again

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 Brad Marchand scored his eighth career goal in the Stanley Cup Final, tied for the most among active players (Corey Perry entered Game 1 with eight, deadlocked with Evgeni Malkin and Ondrej Palat). Of course, it was a go-ahead goal to snag the Panthers a quick lead on a power play that was the result of a failed coaches' challenge. Of course.

That's what he does, that's what these Panthers do, and that's why Marchand has been such a seamless and important fit with the Rat Pack.

They didn't pull off the overtime win, but they made nothing about it easy for the Oilers. Before the loss, the Panthers had been 31-0 when leading after the first period in the playoffs in the Paul Maurice era. You know the Rat Pack will take the Oilers ruining their perfect lead protection personally.

Bobrovsky Kept Florida in the Game

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Sergei Bobrovsky became the third different goaltender in the past decade with a 40-save performance in a Stanley Cup Final game, and boy, did he earn that title with a 42-save effort despite his team's loss. Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, who ended with 29 saves, even tipped his hat to Bobrovsky before he addressed the media about his performance postgame.

Bobrovsky sustained Florida's lead for several periods in regulation despite the Oilers' many comeback attempts; Edmonton outshot Florida 14-2 in the third and only got one goal out of it.

According to MoneyPuck.com, Bobrovsky was still in the clear with .65 goals saved above expected and a .913 save percentage despite allowing four goals. In an uncharacteristic and sloppier game for the typically forecheck-forward Panthers, "playoff Bob" showed up to do his nickname justice.

McDavid Puts On His Cape in Crunch Time

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It was almost a quieter night for the best hockey player in the world, as the Panthers and matchup king Aleksander Barkov put much of their energy into containing him.

But as the Oilers keep knocking and building pressure, McDavid could be denied no more. He tallied two assists when his team needed him the most: Mattias Ekholm's equalizer in the third, and Draisaitl's game-winner in overtime. He now ties Sidney Crosby, Doug Gilmour, and Ray Bourque for the third most multi-assist playoff games in NHL history.

The great players in this game find a way to make an impact, even against the best opponents. While all eyes -- and a significant amount of the Panthers' effort -- were focused on McDavid, he made two crucial plays instead of trying to force a wasted shot on goal. His team took Game 1 because of it.