Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers had the first laugh in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, scoring three unanswered goals to erase a 3-1 deficit and secure a 4-3 overtime victory. Riding a wave of momentum, McDavid added insult to injury with a bold comment about teammate Leon Draisaitl—seemingly taking a shot at Aleksander Barkov in the process.
The Oilers and Panthers didn’t disappoint with their first meeting of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. The action at Rogers Place was packed with goals, saves, thunderous hits, and constant chirps between the players.
After winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the third time in his NHL career, Barkov had a disappointing night during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, looking almost unrecognizable with his self from earlier in the playoffs.
Neither Barkov nor the Panthers had any answers for Draisaitl during the opening game of the series, as the German star found the back of the net twice, including the game-winning goal in overtime.
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the first period against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Draisaitl is unstoppable on offense, but the defensive side of his game is not to be understated, either. On that note, McDavid added insult to injury with a bold statement about his duo, taking a subtle shot at Barkov, dubbed the best defensive forward in the league.
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“[Draisaitl’s] invaluable. There’s so many good things. You name it, he does it,” Connor McDavid said about his best teammate, per Greg Wyshynski. “He doesn’t get enough respect or credit for his defensive abilities. There’s not many better. Maybe nobody better.”
Simple as that
As soon as Tomas Nosek sent the puck puck sailing over the glass from his own zone with less than two minutes left in overtime, Game 1 felt all but decided. There wasn’t many doubts that McDavid, Draisaitl, and company would cash in on the man-advantage and take the 1-0 series lead.
“Especially on the power play you’re looking to finish it,” Draisaitl admitted, via NHL.com. “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 2.”
Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up prior to a game against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Outplayed
The Panthers simply couldn’t keep up with the McDavid-Draisaitl duo during the opening game of the series. McDavid extended his point streak to six games, while Draisaitl has now recorded a point in his last seven games. In the blink of an eye, Florida learned why the two stars in Edmonton lead the NHL in points. If the Cats don’t come up with a plan to neutralize them, their chances will only slimmer even further.
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Draisaitl had been the talk of the town last season after going goalless through the seven-game Final series against the Panthers. He clearly grew sick and tired of the noise, silencing the critics with a pivotal brace that guided the Oilers to victory.
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It was a clear demonstration of strength from the Oilers duo—they showed the Panthers their fangs, and it was enough to win. McDavid assisted twice but didn’t score, which only raises more concerns for the Cats. If they struggled this much when McDavid didn’t even find the back of the net, what will happen when he finally does?
