NHL News: Oilers’ Stuart Skinner makes sincere confession after Game 1 win over Panthers

For Stuart Skinner, Wednesday night wasn’t just another win — it was a personal statement. The Edmonton Oilers goaltender stood tall in the net, backstopping a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers to open the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. But beyond the 29 saves and high-pressure performance, Skinner revealed a striking emotional shift from last season’s heartbreak.

Just a year ago, Skinner admitted he couldn’t take his eyes off the Stanley Cup as it sat out of reach. The Oilers had fallen short, and the memory lingered. But this time, the focus is sharper, the motivation deeper. There’s no more gazing — only chasing.

“When I saw the Cup on the ice last year, I was kind of looking at it with googly eyes,” Skinner confessed. “This year, I saw it already. So now it’s time to get back to work. It felt completely different emotionally.”

Redemption and perspective fuel Edmonton’s push

The Oilers’ Game 1 win marked a crucial difference from last year’s Finals, where they never held a series lead. Skinner knows that momentum — and mindset — matter deeply at this stage.

“It’s huge. Obviously when you look back at it, if we get one win right away, it’s a completely different story [last season],” he said. “I think the way that we showed up right from the get-go and the way that we continued to keep on going even though we were down by two, that shows a lot of character by us.”

see also

NHL News: Bruins make major coaching move, announce new HC after Joe Sacco exit

That character was on full display as Edmonton clawed back from a 3-1 deficit. Mattias Ekholm netted the tying goal late in regulation, and Leon Draisaitl delivered the winner in overtime after Florida’s Tomas Nosek took a costly delay-of-game penalty.

Looking ahead to Game 2

The emotional lift from Game 1 is palpable for Edmonton, but the job is far from done. The Panthers will no doubt come out with urgency in Game 2, set for Friday night at Rogers Place. For Skinner and the Oilers, the message is clear: keep pushing forward.