Sights, sounds, highlights from Amerant Bank Arena
© Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Welcome to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
The series is tied 2-2 after a wild 5-4 overtime win for the Oilers. NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price was inside Amerant Bank Arena to provide all the sights, sounds and highlights in the Stanley Cup Final live blog.
And that’s it.
Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers scores at 11:18 of overtime to end an absolute classic Game 4 of the Cup Final here in Florida.
It was a game that saw the Panthers lead 3-0 only to see the Oilers take a 4-3 late late in the third period only to see the Panthers tie it with 19.5 second left in regulation.
Sam Bennett had a chance to end if for Florida with about 13:30 left but his shot Pickard’s arm and then the crossbar. What an incredible save for Pickard.
Now we head back to Edmonton for Game 5 on Thursday with the series tied 2-2.
Thanks for reading along. I will talk to everyone from Edmonton for Game 5.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Draisaitl completes Oilers’ comeback with OT winner
We are five minutes into overtime and there have been some close calls, but no goals obviously.
The fans here are on the edge of their seats and who can blame them? This has been an absolute banger of a hockey game with each team trading goal runs and clutch goals and great scoring chances.
There was a wild sequence about 1:40 into the overtime when the puck was bouncing around the crease but Trent Frederic and Sergei Bobrovsky were able to keep it out.
Let me know if this sounds familiar: the Panthers and Oilers are going to overtime.
For the third time in four games, we need more than 60 minutes to decide it.
The last time, the Oilers scored late in regulation and the Panthers won in double-overtime.
This time, the Panthers scored late in regulation and well, we’ll see.
This has been just an unbelievable Final, and we could be just over halfway through.
Just unbelievable hockey here and the stakes are super high.
If the Panthers win this game, it’s a massive gut punch to the Oilers, losing the lead with 19.5 second left and the Panthers would be 1 win from another Cup.
If the Oilers win, it’s a massive win — overcoming a 3-0 hole and the late regulation goal by Reinhart, and then it would be a best of 3 series with possibly two games in Edmonton.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Taylor Swift reacts to Reinhart’s game-tying goal
Not so fast folks. The Panthers, showing the heart of a champion, score with 19.5 seconds left and we are tied again.
This place is absolutely shaking. It’s Sam Reinhart with the goal and for the third time in four games, we are going to overtime.
What an absolute crusher for the Oilers, who now have to regroup before overtime.
Holy heck. What a game.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Tkachuk, Reinhart team up to even score late in 3rd period
There are under four minutes left and this place is stunned.
The Panthers seemed in control after a dominant first period, but the Oilers have come back to take a 4-3 lead.
It’s almost as if the Oilers stared into the playoff abyss and decided enough was enough.
If they hold on and we go back to Edmonton tied 2-2, that place will be going nuts on Saturday night.
No, I don’t think the Panthers will wilt if they lose this game, but this is a gut punch that they need to recover from.
The Oilers have the lead after Jake Walman just beat Bobrovsky with any absolute lazer over the glove and it’s 4-3 with 6:24 left.
What a game this has been. What a comeback by the Oilers. Just an unreal turn of events here.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Walman rips home slap shot to put Oilers on top
Sergei Bobrovsky just saved the Panthers’ bacon, making a ridiculous pad save on Corey Perry during an Oilers power play.
McDavid took a wide open shot on goal, Bobrovsky made the save, Perry picked up the loose puck and trip to wrap it in, but Bob got the pad out.
The Oilers went to the power play after Sam Bennett tripped Leon Draisaitl in open ice away from the puck.
Was really a careless play by Bennett put thanks to Bob, it’s still tied with under 10 minutes left here.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Bobrovsky keeps Perry off board with great save in 3rd period
It’s getting intense in here, with the crowd hanging on every shot, every pass, every hit.
There is 13:24 left and it’s anyone’s game.
The Panthers have had the better of play in this third period, but have not scored.
There is an almost hush in the crowd when Connor McDavid gets the puck in open ice, like the entire arena is anticipating greatness.
The Oilers kill the penalty — with Connor McDavid on the PK — and we are still tied and it’s back to 5 on 5. Calvin Pickard is becoming a big story here. He has shut the door since replacing Stuart Skinner after the first period, allowing hte Oilers to come back and tie the game.
Can he keep it up? Will he get the win? Why am I asking you?
The crowd has the “Let’s Go Panthers” chants going, but there is certianly a nervous energy in here.
The Panthers are puting the pressure on and Niko Mikkola just ripped one of Pickard’s mask, causing a stoppage in play.
We have 16 left in regulation and it’s 3-3 in this epic Game 4.
And here we go. 20 minutes (at least) to see if the Panthers take a 3-1 lead or the Oilers, who looked cooked after the first period, even things up.
Remember, the Panthers will start the third period on the power play with Leon Draisaitl in the box for elbowing. There is still 1:29 left on the power play, where the Panthers have scored twice.
The Oilers made the goalie change and certainly played better in front of Calvin Pickard than they did in front of Stuart Skinner.
The Oilers also made Sergei Bobrovsky look human.
Here’s a great note from the NHL Stats folks.
— The Oilers can become the seventh team in NHL history overcome a three-goal deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to win. The others are the Hurricanes in 2006 (Game 1), Penguins in 1992 (Game 1), Flyers in 1987 (Game 3), Canadiens in 1944 (Game 4), Maple Leafs in 1936 (Game 3) and Canadiens in 1919 (Game 5).
— The Oilers and Panthers will once again combine for at least seven goals – 2025 marks the third Stanley Cup Final in NHL history to feature teams combine for seven-plus tallies in each of the first four games of the series, following 1980 (6 GP) and 1918 (4 GP).
We are through two periods and it’s 3-3.
The Panthers will have 1:29 of power-play time when the third begins because Leon Draisaitl took an elbowing call in the final minute of a second period the Oilers dominated, scoring three goals, outshooting Florida 17-10.
I’m probably reading too much into this, but this game could go a long way to decide who wins the Cup. If the Oilers can complete this comeback they would have to feel great about themselves heading home with a game in less than two days. If the Panthers can overcome this Oilers push and break their soul with a win, they would have all the momentum heading into a possible Cup clinching game on Saturday.
The “Let’s Go Panthers” chants have replaced any chants about Stuart Skinner, but the crowd is certainly a little more reserved with the score tied.
The Panthers had a chance to score, but Mattias Ekholm stepped in front of a Matthew Tkachuk shot that at what appeared to be an open net.
One side effect of the Oilers tying the game is all the pun heads about Taylor Swift the NHL.com editors came out with are out the window.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Ekholm keeps the game tied at 3 in the 2nd
And just like that we are tied.
Vasily Podkolzin gets a loose puck in the crease and shovels it over Bobrovsky and now they certainly nervous here in Florida while they are going bananas at the Moss Pit in Edmonton.
The DJ just played “Even Flow” by Pearl Jam and that’s what this game has now, amazing flow to it and amazing drama with Florida scoring the first three goals and Edmonton coming back with the next three.
We have 4:02 left in the second and it’s 3-3.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Podkolzin scores sweet backhand goal in 2nd period
The power play is over and the Panthers still lead it 3-2, but the Oilers are clearly feeling it.
Connor McDavid just pulled off a move that left Aaron Ekblad falling on his backside, but Sergei Bobrovsky was there to stop it.
Still, the feel of this game has changed dramatically, and what looked like it could be a laugher after one period has turned into the tight, up-and-down, back-and-forth hockey we saw in the first two games.
This is great hockey the fans — though a bit nervous — are loving it. I hope Taylor and Travis are enjoying the show.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Bobrovsky makes pad save on McDavid in 2nd period
We have a one-goal game. Darnell Nurse with a sharp angle shot over the shoudler of Sergei Bobrovsky and just like that it’s 3-2 with 7:13 left in the second.
And now it’s the Panthers fans who are upset with the refs, thinking there should have been a call on the play.
And as that’s happening, the Panthers shoot the puck over the glass and the Oilers are back on the power play.
The Oilers avoid a major disaster when Anton Lundell gets a steal in the offensive zone, skates in on Calvin Pickard all alone, but is stuffed. This came just as the Oilers were starting to pick up a little steam. Huge save from Pickard there.
The scoreboard is urging fans to get loud. They are already loud. Maybe it should say get louder.
Now I’m getting texts from my wife and kids asking me about being in the same building as Taylor Swift. I told them it’s almost as exciting as sitting next to George Richards and Mike Zeisberger.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Nurse cuts Oilers’ deficit to 1 goal in 2nd period
Sergei Bobrovsky just put on a clinic on the most recent Oilers power play, making big saves on Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry to keep it a 3-1 game.
Even though the Oilers didn’t score, they certainly have a little more spring in their step this period after a disastrous first period.
Whether the goalie change woke up the Oilers or not, they look like a different team in the second period and it feels like a different game.
And this crowd, that was ready to party of the first 20 minutes, has been somewhat tempered a bit.
As for the music, we just heard some Foo Fighters, Black Crowes, but no Taylor Swift songs yet.
I’ll see if George can talk to the DJ.
The Nugent-Hopkins goal has put a little starch into the Florida crowd. As most expected, the argy-bargy level is low at this point with too much at stake.
Plus, they don’t have Stuart Skinner to yell at since he’s been pulled.
And now Edmonton is showing some signs of life, but it’s still a 3-1 Florida lead early in the second period.
But Edmonton is going back on the power play with Florida now taking some careless penalties. This time it’s Dmitry Kulikov for holding the stick.
As I said before, George Richards is Mr. Everything in the press box. He fixes coffee machines, gets to the bottom of the goal horn situation and he’s also in charge of the TVs in the press box.
This guy does it all.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Nugent-Hopkins trims Oilers’ deficit with PPG in 2nd period
The Oilers are on the board. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scores on the power play at 3:33 after Sam Bennett took a slashing call. So three of the four goals tonight have been on the power play. Stay out of the box boys.
The Oilers had their first real chance to score early in the first period when Jeff Skinner came in alone on Sergei Bobrovsky, but the Panthers goalie shut the door.
It’s nice to see Skinner get a chance to play and nearly score, but if Edmonton is going to get back in this game, it needs its stars like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to step up. They have been pretty quiet here early on.
Meanwhile, the Panthers fans are still giving it to Stuart Skinner, chanting “Where is Skinner?” Ouch.
The second period has begun but Stuart Skinner‘s night is over. The Oilers goalie is out after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period. Calvin Pickard is now back in goal.
He finished Game 3 after Skinner was pulled in that game.
By the way, in the last four periods of hockey in this FInal, the score is 10-1 Florida.
The media members all gathered around the George Richards coffee bar felt this change was coming, not because Skinner was bad, but because the Oilers need to change something up.
Let’s see if it works.
The Oilers need something to change or this could be a long night and possibly a short series.
The first period is over and the Panthers have a 3-0 lead.
Never in their wildest dreams (Taylor Swift reference) could they envisioned a better start to Game 4.
The Oilers again are taking careless penalties. The Panthers are clicking on the power play. Sergei Bobrovsky is stopping everything that comes his way. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been quiet and the fans are really, really loud.
Oh, and did we mention Taylor Swift it here.
I would look for Calvin Pickard to start the second period for Edmonton, just to change things up.
The Oilers need some sort of spark. They are in danger of getting run out of this building, which has become a house of horrors.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Lundell increases Panthers’ lead late in opening period
Matthew Tkachuk has joined the Stanley Cup Final party, scoring his second power-play goal of the first period and it’s 2-0 Panthers.
It’s been a disastrous period for the Oilers. They have taken three bad penalties, have allowed two power-play goals and are getting thoroughly outplayed.
The Panthers went back on the power play when Mattias Ekholm took a high stick against Brad Marchand. It’s another obvious and carless penalty for the Oilers.
If the Oilers don’t get back in this game or the series, it could be another cruel summer for Edmonton fans (that’s a Taylor Swift reference, by the way).
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Tkachuk nets his second PPG of game in opening period
The fans here are giving it to Stuart Skinner, but honestly, his teammates aren’t giving him much support.
They saddled him with a 5-on-3 kill, which lasted only four seconds when Matthew Tkachuk scored. The Oilers were able to kill off the seconnd penalty, but they haven’t done much else. They are being outshot 13-3 with 5:26 left in the first period and quite honestly, are lucky it’s only 1-0 at this point.
The Oilers clearly have to stay out of the penalty box or this could be a long night. They need some sort of spark because right now the Panthers are taking it to them and the fans can sense it.
The Oilers are self destructing.
Four seconds after Darnell Nurse took a tripping penalty to give the Panthers a two-man advantage, Matthew Tkachuk beat Stuart Skinner high over the shoudler and it’s 1-0. And the Panthers are still on the power play.
That’s two careless penalties for the Oilers and the Panthers have cashed in.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Tkachuk puts Panthers on top with PPG in opening period
We have our first penalty and it’s penalty-box regular Evander Kane heading off.
He got his stick up high on A.J. Greer and he’s off to the box for two minutes. Kane took some carless penalties in Game 3 and he just took one there.
If the Panthers can cash in here, the tone of this game and series could shift dramatically.
Ok, it’s official, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are here. They just showed them on TV.
I wonder what will happen if they show her on the jumbotron. This place might go nuts.
Well, they just showed former Panther Jaromir Jagr on the big screen and the crowd went nuts.
Right now, the biggest star of the game for either team is Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, who is keeping his team in the game.
He already have 10 saves and we are just 10 minutes into the game.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend Game 4
During the few days off, both coaches predicted Game 4 would be a lot like Games 1-2, which means back and forth action, hitting, but not of the antics we saw in a penalty-filled Game 3.
Each team is hitting, but so far nothing dirty or after the whistle. The stakes are took high.
Still, the Panthers have dominated the first 7:25 of the game, outshooting Edmonton 8-1, but Skinner has stood tall.
So the story behind the George Richards coffee machine is he told Panthers GM Bill Zito at some point during the season the coffee up here in the press box was bad. So Zito got a new coffee machine and named it after George.
I’m telling you, George is a celebrity up here. I’m half expecting Taylor Swift to stop by and get a photo with him.
Stuart Skinner has already made Kris Knoblauch look like a genius for sticking with him, making a sprawling save on Sam Bennett, who appeared to have an open net.
Second later, Skinner was a wall again, stopping Aleksander Barkov on the doorstep. Skinner, who heard cat calls during the anthems, has come to play, the rest of his team, well, that’s another story. The Oilers have already been outshot 5-1 just 2:38 into the game.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Skinner keeps game scoreless with save on Bennett
Puck dropeth.
This after Jason Taylor was the official drum banger. So if you are keeping score at home, we have Jason Taylor and Taylor Swift in the house.
There was a report going around today that the Panthers fans set some sort of Guinness Book of World Records record for decibel level in Game 3. I can believe it, and I can see a new record being set tonight.
George Richards does it all up here in the press box. He just got summoned from his spot becasue the coffee machine the press box — which is named after him — was “going haywire.”
He is back now. Apparently, someone tried to make a latte and it didn’t work out too well. George is back in his seat and the coffee is flowing.
EDM@FLA, SCF Gm4: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce arrive to watch Game 4
We are a few minutes from puck drop, Taylor Swift will be in the house and NHL.com columnist Nick Costonika has named almost every Taylor Swift song in the past 15 minutes.
I know a few, but I have to say I’m not an official Swifty.
Of course, it’s because I’m old. I was more thrilled in 2018 when I met Lynda Carter in Washington.
Still, it’s really cool that Taylor and Travis are here and just goes to show what a huge game this is.
As we mentioned earlier, the Oilers have some lineup changes tonight with Troy Stecher and Jeff Skinner in and John Klingberg and Viktor Arvidsson out.
There was some question over the past few days about who would start in goal for the Oilers, but it was confirmed this morning that Stuart Skinner would get the call.
A few things to watch tonight.
— how the game is called. The Oilers have spent the past few days saying how they felt the Panthers didn’t get penalized enough in Game 3. So we’ll see if the officials call a tight game.
— who scores first. The Panthers scored less than one minute into Game 3 and never looked back. If they get an early lead again and the Oilers have to chase the game, it could be trouble.
— How Skinner plays. He wasn’t to blame for the 6-1 loss in Game 3, but he wasn’t sharp either. Meanwhile, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been a rock in net.
The players are on the ice. The anther singers are warming up and we are ready for Game 4.
Highly placed sources have confirmed that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will be in the house for this crucial Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
It’s fitting because the Stanley Cup has a blank space for this year’s winner and someone is waiting to write their name (that’s about the depth of my Taylor Swift knowledge/references).
Of course, the Oilers had another pop icon, Shania Twain, at the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton last year.
Swift or no Swift, this crowd is pumped up for this game. It was already loud in here during warmups and I expect it to get even louder once the puck drops.
Again, the stakes here are huge with the Panthers up 2-1 in the series. A win tonight and they can win the Cup again on Saturday in Edmonton. If the Oilers win, the series is tied and they have the momentum with not much time before Game 5 on Saturday.
The hot rumor floating around Amerant Bank Arena is that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will be here for the game.
If you have not heard of them, Taylor is a pop singer and Travis is a football player. They are a couple.
Of course, the biggest news tonight is that the goal horn is working, after they had issues with it on Monday for Game 3.
NHL.com Panthers correspondent George Richards hit me with the news when I got to the press box tonight.
Now the question is, how many times will it go off?
If you think the Panthers are going to score a lot tonight, consider this? Since the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner is 14-1 with a 1.39 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in Games 4-7 of a series.
Some other pregame notes to chew on while we get ready for the game to start.
Panthers forward Sam Bennett can become the first player in 105 years and second in NHL history to score 15 goals in a postseason after never recording a 30-goal regular season entering that playoff run. His 14 are tied with Fernando Pisani (14 in 2006), John Druce (14 in 1990) and Dino Ciccarelli (14 in 1981) for the second-highest total in League history behind Newsy Lalonde (17 in 1919).
Bennett and Panthers forward Brad Marchand can become the fourth and fifth players in the expansion era (since 1967) to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. The others: Mike Bossy (4 GP in 1982), Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981) and Johnny Bucyk (4 GP in 1970).
Oilers forward Corey Perry’s next goal will see him move into a tie for the second most in a career by a player age 39 or older. Entering play, the only two with more are Mark Recchi (14) and Nicklas Lidstrom (11).
Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have combined for 8-16—24 (10 GP) in playoff games after both were held off the score sheet in the previous contest. McDavid has totaled 4-10—14 in those games, including four multi-point outings, while Draisaitl earned 4-6—10 and three contests with multiple points.
And in case you missed it, the Vezina and Hart Trophy were awarded earlier tonight.
And the NHL All-Rookie team was named.
And the NHL First and Second All-Star teams were named.
We are less than an hour from puck drop and everyone is champing at the bit.
Due to the start of the Final being moved up, we’ve had two full days off since Game 3 on Monday and the players, fans and the traveling media contingent is ready to get going.
And why not? This is — to this point — the biggest game of the Final. The Panthers absolutely crushed the Oilers in Game 3, winning 6-1 while appearing to get under the skin of the Edmonton players – though both teams deny that happened.
If the Panthers can win again tonight, they will be one win from a second straight Cup and will have established their home dominance. If the Oilers win, they even the series with Game 5 back in Edmonton on Saturday – that’s right, just one day off, and it’s a long travel day.
So you can expect about 5 overtimes tonight. (Just kidding).
There was some news this morning with the Oilers making some lineup changes. Check out Derek Van Diest’s story on all the Oilers moves.
And here is Dan Rosen’s preview of Game 4 with the lineups.
And for all your other required pregame reading, check out our Cup Final landing page.
The fans are still outside, enjoying the hot humid weather. We’re inside, trying to avoid the pile of donut holes.
Speaking of treats, in addition to the donut holes provided at the game, the Panthers put out a huge spread of pastries at the morning skates. The cinnamon rolls are bigger than most people’s heads. See photo below.
I’ll be back in a bit once the warmups are over.
© Bill Price
FLA vs. EDM
FLA vs. CAR | EDM vs. DAL
FLA vs. TOR | CAR vs. WSH | DAL vs. WPG | EDM vs. VGK
OTT vs. TOR | FLA vs. TBL | MTL vs. WSH | NJD vs. CAR
STL vs. WPG | COL vs. DAL | MIN vs. VGK | EDM vs. LAK
