Category: Ice Hockey

A look back at the Red Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup victory on its 23rd anniversary highlighting key moments a star-studded roster and a historic farewell to Scotty Bowman

June 13, 2025 — Today marks the 23rd anniversary of one of the most iconic nights in Detroit Red Wings history: their 2002 Stanley Cup Championship. That night, the Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena, hoisting the franchise’s 10th Stanley Cup, and solidifying their place as the team of the era.

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A Dynasty Solidified in Hockey History

The 2001–02 Red Wings were a powerhouse built for greatness with a loaded roster of Hall of Famers and future legends like captain Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Nicklas Lidström, Sergei Fedorov, Chris Chelios, Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull, Dominik Hasek, and the legendary Igor Larionov, just to name a few.

Coached by arguably the greatest head coach in the sport's history, Scotty Bowman, in what would be his final season behind the bench.  

Game 5

The Cup-clinching game took place on June 13, 2002, with the Red Wings entering up 3-1 in the series. The Stanley Cup was in attendance and Detroit wasted no time imposing their will.

Goals from Shanahan and winger Tomas Holmstrom powered the Wings to a 3–1 victory over the Hurricanes. The final moments were deafening as the sold-out Joe Louis Arena erupted in celebration, knowing the Cup was staying in Hockeytown.

Yzerman was handed the cup for the third time in his career and was his proudest win yet as he was battling a severe knee injury throughout the playoffs.

He went on to hand of the cup to coach Scotty Bowman, who took a legendary victory lap on skates, giving him the send-off he deserve. It was Bowman’s ninth Stanley Cup as a head coach, breaking his tie with Toe Blake and cementing his legacy.

Conn Smythe Winner

The 2002 Conn Smythe Trophy was awarded to Nicklas Lidström, making history as the first European-trained player to win the award. Lidström was outstanding throughout the playoffs, logging heavy minutes and putting up 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 23 games.

His surgical style of play anchored Detroit’s blueline and shut down the Hurricanes' every opportunity in the brief five-game series.

Moments from the 2002 Playoff Run

• Game 3, Round 1 vs. Vancouver Canucks – Down 0–2 in the series, Nicklas Lidström scored from center ice on Dan Cloutier to swing the momentum. Detroit would rattle off four straight wins to take the series.
• Game 7, Round 2 vs. St. Louis Blues – Dominik Hasek showed why he was nicknamed “The Dominator” after shutting out the Blues in a must-win game.
• Game 3, Stanley Cup Final vs. Carolina – Igor Larionov scored the triple-overtime winner, making him the oldest player to score a Stanley Cup Final overtime goal at age 41.

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While it was a given after he had won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie for the 2024-25 season, Montreal Canadiens’ blueliner Lane Hutson was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team on Thursday night.

One hundred eighty-seven members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association were asked to vote for the All-Rookie team, and three of the selections were unanimous: Hutson and his fellow Calder finalists, the Calgary Flames’ goaltender Dustin Wolf, and the San Jose Sharks’ forward Macklin Celebrini.

Philadelphia Flyers Russian wonder Matvei Michkov was a near-unanimous selection, receiving 186 votes, while the final forward, Anaheim Ducks’ Cutter Gauthier, received just 79 votes. As for the second defenseman, the honour was given to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Denton Mateychuk, who received 95 votes.

The last time a Canadiens player was named to the All-Rookie Team was in the 2019-20 season, when Nick Suzuki was honoured alongside Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Elvis Merzlikins, Victor Olofsson, and Dominik Kubalik. Before then, it was alternate captain Brendan Gallagher, back in 2012-13, on a team that also featured Jonathan Huberdeau, Brandon Saad, Jonas Brodin, Justin Schultz, and former Hab goaltender Jake Allen.

The last Canadiens blueliner to be named to the All-Rookie Team was P.K. Subban in 2010-11, who was joined by Logan Couture, Corey Crawford, John Carlson, Jeff Skinner, and Michael Grabner.

The NHL began naming an All-Rookie Team in 1982-83, and since then, 14 Canadiens players have received the honour. In three seasons, two players from the Habs made the team. In 1982-83, Mats Naslund and Dan Daoust; in 1984-85, Chris Chelios and Steve Penney; and in 1985-86, Patrik Roy and Kjell Dahlin.

Of the 14 Canadiens players named, only three were blueliners, including Hutson. There were also only three goaltenders (Carey Price being the third), and the remaining eight players were forwards (Gallagher, Suzuki, Dhalin, Daoust, Naslund, Oleg Petrov, Michael Ryder and Gilbert Dionne).

Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will reportedly be one of the teams vying for Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand's services if he hits the open market on July 1st.

According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the door isn't closed on the 37-year-old returning to Florida after a successful playoff campaign this year, where he's scored eight goals and 10 assists in 21 games.

However, with the Panthers having two other pending unrestricted free agents, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad, Marchand is more likely to hit the open market.

"I think he’s going to get three or four years and easily north of $8 million a year," LeBrun wrote.

"And yes, as others have wondered, I do believe the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the possibilities for Marchand. I mean, he mentioned during the second-round series with Toronto that he grew up a Leafs fan. But to be clear, there are multiple teams in play for Marchand if and when he hits the market."

After Toronto's disastrous Game 7 loss to the Panthers on home ice, if you somehow missed it, Marchand admitted his fandom of the Maple Leafs growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. That comment tilted fans' heads a bit, especially with being a lifelong Bruin up to this year.

Though it's not the first time he's acknowledged it.

Data Suggests Veterans Outperform in NHL Playoffs—Should the Maple Leafs Follow the Trend?The 2025 Stanley Cup Final has served as a stark reminder: experience, that intangible quality often dismissed for youthful exuberance, can be a decisive weapon in the grind of playoff hockey. From Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand's tenacious performance to 40-year-old Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry, veteran players are not just participating—they're driving their teams. This raises a critical question for NHL general managers, particularly those like the Toronto Maple Leafs—perpetually searching for the missing piece: Should teams pay a premium for veteran players, banking on their experience to translate into playoff success?

Before Toronto and Boston's first-round series last year, Marchand confessed he grew up a fan of the blue and white.

"No, they were my favorite team growing up," Marchand said when asked after practice if he'd ever gotten tired of hearing about the Maple Leafs growing up on the East Coast of Canada, via Boston Hockey Now.

"So I didn’t get tired of it; it was fun to watch them. Even today, they have a lot of their alumni walking around the building, guys that I admired growing up. So seeing them in the arena is special as well. I’m still a huge fan of the game and to see those guys makes it so much fun."

Now, if he was to join Toronto during free agency, how would that work?

With several of the Maple Leafs' forwards coming off the books, including Mitch Marner and John Tavares, plus pending restricted free agent Matthew Knies, who needs a new deal, Toronto has just over $25.7 million in cap space to play with, according to PuckPedia.

Let's say Marner leaves Toronto, which is reportedly likely to happen, and Tavares signs at a $5 million annual average value, with Knies signing at $7.5 million per year. That leaves the Maple Leafs with $13.2 million in money left in the bank.

Should The Maple Leafs Pursue Brad Marchand In Free Agency? How Much Is Too Much To Pay?Brad Marchand is once again proving why he's one of the NHL's ultimate premier playoff performers. As an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the question must be asked: Should the Maple Leafs aggressively pursue the veteran player who consistently performs well against them?

It'll be possible for Toronto to take a swing at Marchand, who again, could command north of an $8 million AAV on a three or four-year deal, per LeBrun. If the Maple Leafs went that route, they'd be left with $5.2 million to sign the rest of their depth, including Max Pacioretty, who's reportedly interested in a return.

However, that doesn't include the Maple Leafs' need for a second-line center in the offseason, if Tavares shifts to a bottom-six center role or begins playing on the wing.  All this to say, it's possible Toronto signs Marchand in free agency, but would it make sense?

The veteran winger has two overtime-winning goals in these playoffs. Combine that with the fact that he's just outside the top 10 in playoff scoring and sixth among Panthers players, and there's a good argument for Toronto to sign him.

What's The Ideal Contract For Matthew Knies And The Maple Leafs?When the Toronto Maple Leafs plucked Matthew Knies out of the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, his potential was unknown.

But there's always risk with signing a player entering the late stages of their career, especially with a Marchand contract potentially expiring after his 40th birthday. Still, you can't deny that he's a playoff performer, and Toronto needs more of that throughout their lineup.

Either way, it's trending to be a fascinating free agency period for the Maple Leafs. What will Knies and Tavares' AAV come in at? Will Marner see what's out there in free agency and circle around? Should Toronto really add Marchand?

Those will all be questions Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and his staff are likely mulling over as I write this, with under three weeks remaining until free agency opens up.

 

Are we witnessing one of the best Stanley Cup Final of all time?

Through four games, it sure feels like it.

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have played four games that have each felt like their own mini-novellas.

Considering how talented and tightly matched both the teams are proving to be, it comes as no surprise that we’re heading back to Edmonton with the series locked at two games apiece.

Let’s get to the Game 4 takeaways:

DIFFERENT, BUT THE SAME

The first period and the second period of Game 4 were quite similar in a lot of ways.

Both saw one of the teams control play for much of the frame, and each period saw one club outscore the other by three goals.

Penalties also played a large role.

Florida was given three consecutive power plays during the first period, two of which they scored on, before the Oilers had their own opportunity with back-to-back power plays when the second period arrived.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ goal 3:33 into the middle frame while on the man advantage started a massive momentum shift in Edmonton’s favor.

Things finally evened out during the final 20 minutes, but by then there was so little time left, the margin for error had all but vanished and both teams were fighting like the next goal would be the last.

“(The second period) was just a mirror of the first period,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “They got into a little penalty trouble there, and we took advantage of it, and the second period was just the opposite. I think we were plus-three on the power play side early and minus-three on the power play side in the second half, and then we came out and even tight games, right? Both teams had some chances there, cracked some bars and had some chances that didn't go, and it's a bad break on the overtime winner. So three of the four games have gone to overtime, and I think that's probably the expectation of what we have going forward.”

SOME GREAT GOALTENDING

This year’s Stanley Cup Final has seen plenty of goals scored.

The Panthers and Oilers have combined to put 32 pucks in the net during the first four games of the series.

Both teams have struggled at times defensively, which is to be expected when two high-powered teams like Florida and Edmonton are going at it.

From the outside looking in, it would be easy to point to all the offense and assume the goaltending has not been anything to write home about.

Those who have been paying attention know that if not for some outstanding saves on both sides, we could have seen some pretty ridiculous scores so far in this series.

“From my point of view, there's been phenomenal goaltending in this series,” said Maurice. “The numbers tell me I’m lying, the final score says I'm lying, but the goaltending has been incredible, because the game can break on a slot pass to Sam Bennett (and he) cracks a (crossbar). Everything is dangerous all the time, so there's a mental intensity, a mental toughness I think both teams show. The game's not going to be over till it is. You get three of four games in a final into overtime, you’ve get two really good, evenly matched teams.”

EXPECTED A LONG SERIES

Before the Final began, you would’ve been hard pressed to find anyone who felt this series would be a quick one.

A matchup between powerhouse teams like Edmonton and Florida was going to provide some fireworks, but the history between them has added some incredible drama and intrigue.

Considering three of the four games we’ve seen so far have gone to overtime, it’s pretty clear we’re seeing two very evenly matched teams.

The entertainment value of the Stanley Cup Final has been as high as any in recent memory, and there’s no reason to think that’s going to stop as we get into the latter stages of the series.

“If you plan for seven games, it means you’re losing three of them,” Maurice said after Game 4. “You have to take that pain, eat it and use it to come back.”

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Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends against Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90)during the third period in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Star Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov was a near-unanimous admission to the 2025 NHL All-Rookie Team Thursday, and he was joined on the squad by two of his biggest rivals.

Michkov, 20, was one of five players named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini were each unanimous selections after collecting 187 points in the voting process.

Michkov, with his 186 points, was exactly one point off a unanimous selection. Seems silly, doesn't it?

In addition to Hutson, who is typically the subject of online debate amongst Flyers and Canadiens fans, Michkov was joined by another Flyers villain in Cutter Gauthier, who notoriously spurned the team for months leading up to his shocking trade to the Anaheim Ducks.

Gauthier, 21, collected the third-most points in the voting process behind Michkov and Celebrini, pulling in 79 points. Trailing him were names like Will Smith (60), Zack Bolduc (20), and Logan Stankoven (16).

How Did Matvei Michkov Fare in Calder Trophy Voting?Although it was already known Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov wouldn't be a finalist for the 2025 Calder Trophy, the voting process painted a much different picture.

Michkov wasn't the only Flyers rookie to represent the organization, either. Rookie defenseman Emil Andrae earned some looks from voters, finishing with seven points in the voting process. Andrae finished fifth amongst defensemen in voting, trailing Albert Johansson, Drew Helleson, and All-Rookie team members Hutson and Denton Mateychuk.

Andrae, 23, finished his first full-ish season in the NHL with a goal, six assists, and seven points in 42 games while averaging 17:21 of ice time.

As for Michkov, the 20-year-old former No. 7 overall pick led all NHL rookies in goals with 26 and finished with 63 points in 80 games.

Notably, Michkov racked up three overtime-winners before his 20th birthday on Dec. 9, making him one of four teenagers in NHL history to have at least three. The others are Sidney Crosby, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Rick Nash. It's fair to say that this is a pretty good group to be a part of.

Michkov is the first Flyers rookie to be named to the NHL All-Rookie team since Simon Gagne in 2000, with Mikael Renberg (1994) and Eric Lindros (1993) preceding him.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

Flyers could have three shots at ‘dynamic, explosive skater' on the wing originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and either No. 31 or 32 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Cameron Schmidt

Position: Winger
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 160
Shoots: Right
Team: Vancouver

Scouting report

The moment his legs start to churn, Schmidt becomes a blur. He’s lightning fast and can flat-out finish, putting up 40 goals and 78 points in 61 regular-season games for the 2024-25 Giants.

Schmidt had 10 multi-goal games and 32 of his points came on the power play (14 goals, 18 assists). He added four goals and five assists in five playoff games.

“I think he’s a dynamo,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “He’s a great athlete, great skater, he has got a wicked good shot and he can score. I really believe that Cameron, if he wanted to this year, could have scored 55 goals. Cameron was focused in on really developing his game in other areas, being a player that was not just a goal scorer and not just an offensive player. I really admire him for doing that at this young of an age.”

At the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship that ended last month, Schmidt had a solid performance with four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games for gold-winning Team Canada. He’s the 17th-ranked player in the draft on Button’s list.

“He’s a dynamic, dynamic, explosive skater, but he really worked on developing those other parts of his game,” Button said. “His path is going to be a little bit longer just because of his lack of height. But he’s wiry strong for a young player and when I talk about elusive and evasive, you have to be, you have to have separation when you’re that size, you have to be able to create space for yourself to get your shot off and arrive at the right times where there’s space. And I think he does all that.”

Undeniably, Schmidt will see his stock take a hit because he’s pretty undersized. How will his game translate to the pro level? With time, he’ll have to add strength to prove he can protect the puck and play in the trenches.

Schmidt is the 22nd-ranked player by EliteProspects.com, while NHL Central Scouting has him pegged at No. 43 among North American skaters.

“He’s going to fall into the vast majority of players that need more time, not less,” Button said. “I just see so much dynamic skill in him. … He might not be as feisty as Brendan Gallagher has shown in his NHL career, but he’s that type of player. He’s going to attack you with his speed, he’s confident in his scoring ability and when he sees an opening, he sees an opportunity, he can take full advantage of it.”

Fit with Flyers

The Flyers definitely could use more speed and goal scoring in their system, so Schmidt would check those boxes. His game-breaking ability is enticing and the Flyers might have a chance to draft him with the second or third of their first-round picks.

But the Flyers do lack some size on the wing in their prospect pool. Would that deter them from going the smaller route early in this draft?

It’s awfully tough to project if undersized junior forwards will make it at the NHL level. However, Schmidt’s strengths are high end and would be worth adding at the right pick.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

• Could a 6-foot-6, ‘just blossoming’ defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6?

• Will Flyers grab prospect with ‘really, really unique’ combination at No. 6?

• Reschny’s performance vs. 2024 top prospect should have Flyers’ eye in first round

We’ve got quite a Stanley Cup Final on our hands.

The Edmonton Oilers erased a three-goal deficit in Game 4, defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to even the championship series at two games apiece.

Just like in Game 3, it was the Panthers who got on the scoreboard first.

With both Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse in the penalty box, Florida was able to quickly capitalize on the 5-on-3 opportunity.

Right off the ensuing faceoff, Matthew Tkachuk wired a shot past the blocker of a screened Stuart Skinner and into the net to give Florida a 1-0 lead with 8:20 left in the opening period.

Less than four minutes later, Mattias Ekholm was called for high-sticking Brad Marchand, giving the Panthers another power play.

A pretty passing play through the Oilers zone had the puck on Sam Reinhart’s stick in the slot, and while his shot was stopped by Skinner, Tkachuk was right there to pounce on the rebound to give Florida a 2-0 lead.

They weren’t done there.

During the final minute of the period, Carter Verhaeghe stole the puck from Troy Stecher behind Edmonton's net and fed a streaking Anton Lundell, who made no mistake, beating Skinner and sending Florida into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.

That would be all for Stuart Skinner. He was replaced by Calvin Pickard for the second straight game after surrendering three goals on 17 shots.

Also similarly to Game 3, an early second period power play would prove to be fruitful for the Oilers.

Sam Bennett was sent off for a slash, and a quick passing play found Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the left faceoff circle and he got the Oilers on the board 3:33 into the middle frame.

A sharp angle shot by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse went over Bob’s shoulder and into the top of the net, cutting the Panthers lead to 3-2 with just over seven minutes to go.

Shortly after that, right off a faceoff in Florida’s end, the rebound of a wraparound by Nurse found its way to the slot, where Visily Podkolzin sent a backhand bast Bobrovsky to tie the game at three.

Edmonton nearly took their first lead of the night when on a third period power play, but Bobrovsky came up with an incredible skate blade save on Corey Perry on the doorstep.

That first lead would come for the Oilers with 6:24 to go.

Jake Walman came down from the point and stepped into a one-timer that flew over Bobrovsky’s glove, putting Edmonton up 4-3 and further silencing the sellout crowd.

In the final minute, with Bobrovsky on the bench, Florida’s final push would pay off.

Sam Reinhart found the puck at the bottom of the left circle and fired it from a tight angle into a yawning cage with just 19.3 left in regulation.

The jubilation felt by the Panthers and their fans would be short lived, though.

Leon Draisaitl found the back of the net at 11:18 of the first overtime session, giving the Oilers an incredible comeback victory and tying the series a two games apiece.

On to Game 5.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Tkachuk’s goals were his first of the Final and sixth and seventh of the playoffs.

He’s racked up three goals and 11 points over his past nine games.

Sasha Barkov had the primary assist on Tkachuk’s PPG. It was Barkov’s first point of the Final and 18th of the postseason. He added another assist later in the game.

Lundell has points in three straight Final games, with a goal and three assist during the run.

Verhaeghe is riding a five-game points streak, with three goals and eight points over that stretch.

Reinhart has logged back-to-back multi-point outings. He had a goal and two assists in Game 4.

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Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) (not pictured) scores in overtime against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers led 3-0 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final against the Edmonton Oilers.

But, they lost.

Matthew Tkachuk and the stars of the defending champion Panthers smothered the Oilers in the first period.

Edmonton’s veterans responded fiercely, scoring four straight goals to take a 4-3 lead. The Panthers rebounded, scoring in the final seconds of the third period to force overtime. But, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl scored 11:18 into OT to give Edmonton a 5-4, series-tying victory Thursday night.

The Oilers became the first road team to rally from a three-goal deficit and win a Stanley Cup final game since the Montreal Canadiens did it against the Seattle Metropolitans in 1919. It’s only the sixth time in NHL history that a team has come back from down three to win a final game.

What initially looked like an easy victory that would put Florida one win away from clinching a second straight Stanley Cup final turned into a huge collapse that has the series tied 2-2 heading back to Edmonton.

“We carried play in the first, they carried it in the second,” Tkachuk said. “Special teams were good for us in the first, special teams were good for them in the second. I think it was tighter than a 3-0 period at the start for us. And they clearly took control of play in the second. After two [periods] it’s even, and it probably should have been. So, it doesn’t matter how you how you start, you’ve got to treat it as zeros at the start of a period.”

It has been that kind of series so far – an evenly matched, back and forth heavyweight fight between two extremely experienced, resilient teams. The final has been so tight that three of four games have gone to overtime, marking just the eighth Stanley Cup final – and fourth in the expansion era (since 1967-68) – to have three or more games require overtime.

Despite the loss, Florida coach Paul Maurice said he could appreciate the competitiveness.

“I think we focus on sometimes the mistakes that get made by good players at times,” Maurice said, “and you miss some of the heart and soul and the intensity of it. It’s so fast. Every board battle, everything can turn into something. ... Everything is dangerous all the time. So there’s a mental intensity, a mental toughness I think both teams show that the game’s not going to be over until it is.”

Sam Reinhart nearly saved the collapse Thursday when he scored a tying goal in the waning seconds of regulation. His score with 19.5 seconds left was the second-latest tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history. The record was set earlier in the series by Edmonton’s Corey Perry in Game 2.

Florida, who got a pair of early power-play goals from Tkachuk and an even-strength score from Anton Lundell, had never squandered a 3-0 lead in the postseason. Entering Thursday night, teams were 37-0 when leading a Stanley Cup final game by three or more goals in the first period.

After building the three-goal lead, Tkachuk said he felt the Panthers weren’t connected. Reinhart added he felt they were playing too passively.

“I think we were watching the play develop,” Reinhart said, “as opposed to playing on our toes, and that’s obviously how they got back in the game.”

Edmonton, boosted by second period goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin, became the seventh team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal deficit in the Stanley Cup final to win.

The Oilers also seemed to get a huge boost of momentum after coach Kris Knoblauch decided to pull starting goaltender Stuart Skinner after the Calvin Pickard allowed three goals in the first period.

The good news for the Panthers is they’ve responded well this postseason following letdowns.

Florida seem to relish the moments when the pressure is the highest. That’s what the experience of playing in their third straight Stanley Cup final has taught the Panthers. And its a quality that will be needed if they’re going to regroup from Game 4’s disappointing finish.

“The more times you go through it, the better,” Reinhart said. “It’s never going to be perfect. This time of year, we’ve been here before. We’ve been through it. So ... it’s about recovering for Game 5.”

Among the 19,000-plus on hand at Amerant Bank Arena were a pair of high-profile spectators: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The pop icon and Super Bowl-winning tight end arrived amid heavy speculation and pregame fanfare, with VIP entrances sealed off and a helicopter seen landing nearby.

Swift and Kelce were shown on the broadcast during the first period, holding hands as they made their way to their seats. It marked yet another high-profile sporting event for the couple, whose appearances at NFL games and US Open tennis matches have drawn mass attention since going public in 2023.

Also in the building were hockey legends Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr and Henrik Lundqvist, along with former NFL star Jason Taylor and Miami Heat veterans Bam Adebayo and Udonis Haslem.

But by the end of the night, the loudest cheers came from a pocket of Edmonton fans – and a growing chorus that this final is far from over.

SUNRISE – Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final was like weather in the Midwest: if you didn't like how it was going, you just had to wait a few minutes.

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers took turns controlling the play, and in the end, it was Leon Draisaitl being the overtime hero yet again and Edmonton tying the series with an incredible 5-4 comeback overtime victory.

Connor McDavid came out flying on the opening shift, but Florida managed to get out without taking any damage. From then on, it was all Panthers in the first.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner was under siege early and made some big stops, including a massive sprawling save on Sam Bennett. Edmonton did take away the middle of the ice pretty effectively, and with the way Skinner was playing, his 'Mr. Game 4' reputation seemed to be intact.

Midway through the frame, however, Evander Kane took a high-sticking penalty and one minute later, Darnell Nurse was given the gate for tripping Aleksander Barkov. That gave Florida a 5-on-3 power play and Matthew Tkachuk made no mistake, cashing in on a low wrister after a faceoff win by Barkov.

On the other side of the rink, Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't busy, though he did make a tough stop on an Evan Bouchard blast from the point. Soon after, Mattias Ekholm took a high-sticking penalty on Brad Marchand and once again, Florida went to the power play.

On a somewhat broken play, Tkachuk got his second of the night, picking up a Sam Reinhart rebound at the side of the net and flipping it over Skinner. Things went from bad to worse for Edmonton at the end of the period when Carter Verhaeghe stole the puck from Troy Stecher behind the net, centering the puck for Anton Lundell, who popped one in for a 3-0 Cats lead. The period ended with Florida dominating in shots 17-7 and, truly, in overall game play.

There was drama to begin the second period, as Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch replaced Skinner with Calvin Pickard. The gambit apparently worked though, as Edmonton threw the game off its axis.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got the party going on the power play, snapping a wrister past Bobrovsky almost immediately. Dmitry Kulikov later took a holding-the-stick penalty and though the Cats survived that kill, the Oilers were clearly beginning to roll.

A surprise snipe from defenseman Darnell Nurse made it 3-2, with the big blueliner going high blocker side on Bobrovsky. After McDavid nearly tied it on a gonzo rush, Vasily Podkolzin came through with a backhand off a centering pass from Nurse. All of a sudden, a game that seemed over early was tied.

Florida nearly retook the lead late, but Mattias Ekholm blocked a Tkachuk shot that was headed for a yawning cage. After two periods, the shots were nearly even. 

The Cats carried a power play into the third thanks to a late Draisaitl elbow on Gustav Forsling, but Pickard was up to the task, making a massive toe-save on Barkov. He followed that up with a couple of big stops on Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen at even strength.

Bobrovsky, not to be outdone, made a huge save on Corey Perry during an Edmonton power play.

The tides turned again when Jake Walman stepped into a slap shot at the faceoff dot and blasted one past Bobrovsky for Edmonton's first lead of the game with a little more than six minutes to play.

With Bobrovsky pulled for the extra attacker, Reinhart found a loose puck and buried the tying goal with 20 seconds remaining.

In overtime, the teams were sharp and the goaltenders had to be too. Bobrovsky survived a scramble early, while Pickard made some 10-bell saves - once with the help of his posts.

In the end, it was Draisaitl playing the winner off Niko Mikkola's leg with 8:42 remaining in the extra frame to secure an improbable win for Edmonton.

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reacting To Game 4 Between Oilers And PanthersWelcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After Game 5 in Edmonton on Saturday, one of these teams will be won away from winning the Stanley Cup.

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Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After each game of the Stanley Cup final, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan, Michael Traikos and Michael Augello react to a rollercoaster Game 4 of the final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

Join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.

Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers Game 4 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

Stay tuned to The Hockey News and Playoff Frenzy Live throughout the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the show here.

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Former Red Wings defenceman Jake Walman scores clutch goal in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Finals.

In Game 4 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, played at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the Panthers leapt to a stunning three‑goal lead in the first period, stunning the Oilers and their fans. But Edmonton roared back in the second, leveling the score 3–3 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. 

Late in the third, Jake Walman made potentially the biggest play of his career. The 29‑year‑old defenseman originally drafted 82nd overall by Detroit in 2014 and who skated parts of three seasons with the Red Wings from 2019 to 2022.

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With ice in his veins, Walman ripped a one-timer from the point and beat the Panthers' netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, giving Edmonton a 4–3 lead. It marked his first goal of the Finals, a moment that sealed a crucial win on the road in Florida. 

Walman’s impact this postseason has been undeniable. Since arriving in Edmonton at the trade deadline, he tallied 8 points in 15 regular-season games and added 4 in 15 playoff contests, while posting a stellar plus‑11 rating, ranking among the team’s best, underlining his value on both ends of the ice.

More Red Wings:Golden Knights' Nic Hague Linked to Red Wings in Trade Rumors

His foundational years in Detroit helped shape his reliable two‑way game; analysts and coaches credit that pedigree for his composed performance in high-stakes moments. 

Edmonton Coach Kris Knoblauch has been vocal about how critical Walman has been to Seattle’s blue line, explicitly stating that they "wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jake."

His goal in Game  4 not only broke Florida’s momentum but gave the Oilers life in a must-win game. The Panthers would go on to tie the game with less than 20 seconds left, sending things to overtime.

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The last time an NHL goaltender won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy as its top netminder in the same season, the year was 2015. And the winner that season was likely Hockey Hall-of-Famer Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. However, Winnipeg Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck became the fifth and latest goaltender to do so, taking home the 2024-25 Hart and Vezina Trophies Thursday night.

The 32-year-old Hellebuyck was far and away the league’s best goalie this year. He appeared in 63 games for the Jets this year, posting a 2.00 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. The Vezina win was the second consecutive honor for Hellebuyck, and the third of his nine-year NHL career. Hellebuyck put up a 47-12-3 record this season, becoming the seventh NHL goalie in league history to generate 45 wins or more, and the first goalie to do it since Washington Capitals netminder Braden Holtby did so in 2015-16.

Certainly, Hellebuyck’s post-season numbers weren’t nearly as dominant. He went 6-7 in 13 playoff games, generating a 3.08 GAA and an .866 SP. But no one could deny he was the league’s premier netminder through the regular season. Fellow Vezina finalists Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning star Andrei Vasilevskiy also had solid seasons, but neither could compare to Hellebuyck. 

The bigger honor, obviously, is the Hart. Only seven other goalies in league history have won the MVP award, and Hellebuyck had to beat out finalists Leon Draisailt of the Edmonton Oilers and Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning. While these two players had amazing seasons in their own right, it’s hard to deny that Hellebuyck was extremely valuable to the Jets winning the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team. That’s the definition of the Hart award, and Hellebuyck is a deserving recipient.

With his third Vezina, Hellebuyck joins NHL legends Dominik Hasek, Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur as the only goaltenders to win the best goalie award at least three times since the league altered the Vezina voting process prior to the 1981-82 campaign. Hasek won the Vezina six times, Brodeur won it four, and Roy won it three. So Hellebuyck still has plenty of time to climb up that list. And there’s no good reason why he can’t do it.

Obviously, Hellebuyck wants more playoff success than he wants regular-season success at this point in his career. He’s signed to a contract that still has six seasons left at a relatively reasonable average annual value of $8.5 million. If he’d wanted to, he could’ve left Winnipeg and signed with a different team for considerably more money. But the Jets are still one of the most competitive teams in the league, and Hellebuyck is bound to get another chance at winning in the post-season next year.

For the interim, though, he’ll have to be content with being recognized as hockey’s pre-eminent goalie, the NHL’s most valuable player and an icon-in-the-making. Hellebuyck did everything the Jets asked of him this season, and the results he delivered earned him a special combination of awards few hockey players ever achieve.

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Calgary goalie and Calder Memorial Trophy runner-up Dustin Wolf has been named to the 2024-25 NHL All-Rookie Team. He joins fellow finalists forward Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and defenceman and winner of the award Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens on the team.

The other three spots went to forwards Matvei Michkov (Philadelphia Flyers) and Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim Ducks) and defenceman Denton Mateychuk (Columbus Blue Jackets).

Wolf compiled a 29-16-8 record in his rookie season with Calgary with a GAA of 2.64 and a Save% of .910. His franchise rookie wins was just one below that of Hall of Famer Mike Vernon, who in his rookie season of 1986-87 compiled a 30-22-1 record.

The California kid's achievement is magnified by the fact that he was the fourth-last pick in the 2019 draft.

It goes without saying, the 24-year-old has the starting goalie position secured in Southern Alberta going forward.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Magnus Hellberg is on the move, as he has signed a three-year contract with Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Hockey League.

Hellberg, 34, signed a one-year deal with the Penguins during the 2023 NHL off-season. During his time with the club in 2023-24, he primarily played in the AHL. In 19 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he recorded a 9-8-2 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.92 goals-against average.

Hellberg also played in three games with Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 season, where he posted a 1-0-0 record, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average. His time with the Penguins ended when he was traded to the Florida Panthers at the 2024 NHL trade deadline. Following the move, he had a 5-2-0 record, a .898 save percentage, and a 2.34 goals-against average in eight games with Florida's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. 

Hellberg spent the entirety of this season in the AHL with the Texas Stars. In 41 appearances, he recorded a 24-14-1 record, a 2.69 goals-against average, and a .904 save percentage. Now, he is heading back to the SHL, where he should be a nice piece of Djurgardens IF's roster from here. 

Report: Penguins Only 'True Sellers' On NHL MarketWith the NHL Draft and free agency approaching fast, the NHL trade market is beginning to come into focus. 

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