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)
Kurt Helin
