What Draisaitl and McDavid said after Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Final OT win
The Edmonton Oilers drew first blood in the Stanley Cup Final rematch against the Florida Panthers.
It was a classic Oilers victory in Game 1, with the team battling back from a 3-1 deficit in the final 40 minutes. Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm helped tie up the game, while Leon Draisaitl scored the first goal and the last goal of the game, the OT winner on the power play.
Rogers Place nearly exploded with Draisaitl’s winner, as the goal secured Edmonton’s first series lead in the Stanley Cup Final since 1990. It also ensured that the Panthers would not have the 3-0 lead they built up in last season’s final.
McDavid got the primary assist on the winner, as the Oilers’ superstars led the way in Game 1 with a combined four points.
“He’s invaluable… You name it, he does it,” McDavid said of Draisaitl after the game. “When he’s dug in, there’s not many better, maybe nobody better.”
Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl addressed the media after they each had two points & combined for the OT winner in the #Oilers Game 1 win over the Panthers to open the Stanley Cup Final.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/hAKyetp32O
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 5, 2025
Draisaitl now has three OT winners on this playoff season, with one each against the LA Kings and Vegas Golden Knights. That ties the NHL record for most in a single postseason with teammate Corey Perry.
While everybody will remember Draisaitl as the scorer, the German superstar pointed out two key plays that helped create the chance.
“I’m standing over there watching this whole thing unfold,” Draisaitl said. “I’m the beneficiary, but the work is done way before that.
“[Corey Perry] with a good play to [McDavid], and then an amazing pass over… lots of great plays on that play.”
MCDRAI CONNECTS TO WIN IT BECAUSE OF COURSE pic.twitter.com/YvhrTT84jf
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2025
Heading into this Stanley Cup Final opener, Florida had a ludicrous 31-0 record under head coach Paul Maurice when holding the lead at the end of the first or second period in playoff games. That record fell to 31-1 after the Oilers found a way to pull off the comeback.
“Florida has closed out games extremely well,” McDavid said. “We put ourselves in a tough spot… I thought it was a massive goal from [Arvidsson] and we just hung in there.
“That’s experience. Knowing that you don’t gotta open it up. We gotta hold them at three [goals] and find a way to get one, and fortunately we did.”
To make the goal that much sweeter for Draisaitl was that his parents were not only in Rogers Place to witness it, but they were also sitting near the end of the rink where it happened.
It was a special moment for the Oilers superstar.
“It’s everything,” Draisaitl said. “It’s special to have them here, special for them to be a part of this and have them around.
“Worked out well, they got a front-row seat.”
Edmonton will now look to complete the defence of home ice with Game 2 slated for Friday at Rogers Place.