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What Edmonton Oilers players said after crushing double OT Stanley Cup Final loss

Preston Hodgkinson
Preston Hodgkinson
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Jun 7 2025, 12:00 pm
What Edmonton Oilers players said after crushing double OT Stanley Cup Final loss
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images

The Edmonton Oilers are headed to Florida with the Stanley Cup Final tied up at 1-1.

It was a heartbreaking Game 2 loss that saw Florida Panthers mega-pest Brad Marchand score the game-winner on a breakaway in double OT. That came after Corey Perry electrified Rogers Place with a game-tying goal in the last 20 seconds of regulation.

Nobody expected this series to be a sweep, but to have a potential 2-0 series lead evaporate at a moment’s notice has got to sting for the Oilers. The vibe in the dressing room was downtrodden, but the team was nowhere near to throwing in the towel as the series shifts to Sunrise.

“Every game is tight at this time of year, two really good teams,” Leon Draisaitl told reporters. “It was never gonna be easy. Regroup and get ready for Game 3.

“You gotta move on. There’s no time thinking about it too long. It stings right now, but we have to move on.”

It felt like this game was destined to go Edmonton’s way following Perry’s late-game heroics. The Oilers were previously 4-0 all-time in Stanley Cup Final OT, but Friday night’s loss put one loss in that column.

The wily veteran spoke about the emotions of losing such a close game.

“That’s hockey. One mistake and it gets magnified, and it did tonight,” Perry said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get that bounce.

“Those are tough. You go home and, yeah, you can think about it, but tomorrow you get some rest and get on the plane and be ready for Game 3… It’s frustrating right now, but we’re in the Final for a reason.”

John Klingberg has lost one Stanley Cup Final with the Dallas Stars (alongside Perry) back in 2020, so he knows the sting of defeat. He echoed both Draisaitl and Perry, saying that this Oilers squad knew it wouldn’t be an easy series.

“We were able to win Game 1 in overtime, and they took the one today. It’s hockey, it’s 1-1,” Klingberg said. “They’re travelling tomorrow, we’re travelling, it’s even there.

“Try to get rest, eat, sleep, hydrate.”

There will be a two-day break between Games 2 and 3, meaning that both teams will get some extra rest after playing eight and a bit periods to open up the series.

Game 3 in Florida is set for Monday night.

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