
Leon Draisaitl scores in OT as Oilers rally to even finals
The Oilers trailed 3-0 after one period before rallying behind Draisaitl's three-point game.
The best-of-seven set returns to Edmonton for Game 5 on Saturday. Three of the four games have gone to overtime.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Vasily Podkolzin and Darnell Nurse all collected one goal and one assist for the Oilers. Jake Walman also scored for Edmonton, and Mattias Ekholm collected two assists.
Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced after taking the net following the first period. Starting netminder Stuart Skinner surrendered three goals on 17 shots in the opening frame before being pulled for the second consecutive game.
Draisaitl produced his fourth extra-time tally of the 2025 postseason (a single-season playoff record), finding the net with a one-armed pass attempt that ricocheted off a defender and into the cage.
Matthew Tkachuk scored twice in a three-point outing while Sam Reinhart had a goal in a three-point game for Florida, which had a golden chance to take a stranglehold on the series. Anton Lundell also scored, Aleksander Barkov had two assists and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots.
The Panthers dominated the opening period. Tkachuk scored his first of the game, and of the series, at 11:40 when he buried a shot from the left circle during a five-on-three power play.
Tkachuk doubled the lead five minutes later with another man-advantage marker, a rebound tally. Then Lundell made it a 3-0 affair with 41.7 seconds remaining in the period by finishing an open chance from the slot.
The Oilers responded with their best period of the series in the second frame. Nugent-Hopkins began the comeback at 3:33 by converting an open chance from the slot during a power play, Edmonton's ninth consecutive game with an extra-man goal.
Nurse made it a one-goal game at 12:47 of the second when he lifted a sharp-angled shot from the left wing. Podkolzin tied the clash a couple of minutes later when he pounced on a loose puck during a flurry and found the mark.
Walman gave Edmonton its first lead of the game with a rocket of a shot at 13:36 of the third period, but Reinhart's goal with 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation during a frenzied flurry forced overtime yet again.

Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck earns Hart, Vezina trophies
The awards were announced on Thursday prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at the league's award show.
The Professional Hockey Writers' Association awards the Hart Trophy to the NHL player deemed most valuable to his team during the regular season. The Vezina Trophy goes to the top goalie.
Hellebuyck, a Michigan native, became the first goalkeeper to earn the Hart Trophy since the Montreal Canadiens' Carey Price in 2014-15. Moreover, he is just the fifth goalie to haul in the Vezina and Hart in the same year, joining Price, Jose Theodore (2001-02 Canadiens), Dominik Hasek (1996-97, 1997-98 Buffalo Sabres) and Jacques Plante (1961-62 Canadiens).
"Looking back, I'll probably picture this day as one of the greatest of my career," Hellebuyck said of receiving the two trophies.
Hellebuyck was a prohibitive favorite to win the Vezina. He earned 31 of 32 first-place votes, finishing well ahead of Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy. It was the 32-year old's third Vezina -- he also earned the award in 2019-20 and 2023-24.
The Hart voting was much closer, as Hellebuyck received 1,346 votes to Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl's 1,209.
Hellebuyck led Winnipeg to the Presidents' Trophy with the most points in the league (116). He amassed a league-high 47 wins and eight shutouts and paced qualified goalies in goals-against average (2.00) while posting the second-best save percentage (.925).
However, Hellebuyck struggled in the playoffs, recording a 6-7 record, a 3.08 GAA and a .866 save percentage. Winnipeg was ousted by the Dallas Stars in the second round.

Kings' Anze Kopitar wins third Lady Byng Trophy
He heard the news on a family vacation in Slovenia while playing a round of golf with his father. After nine holes, daughter Neza and son Jakob let him know he was the recipient of his third Lady Byng.
"You won the award for the nicest NHL player," Neza said.
In 81 regular-season games in the 2024-25 season, Kopitar received just two minor penalties. He tallied 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists), then added nine points (two goals, seven assists) in six playoff games.
Kopitar, 37, also won the Lady Byng in the 2015-16 and 2022-23 seasons to become the 10th player to win it at least three times.
"To me, it just means being so-called a gentleman," the Kings' captain said. "Hockey is a physical sport but within those parameters, I think there's obviously room, I guess, (to be) a gentleman, a good guy, having respect toward your peers, toward the officials. Just carry yourself in a way to where kids look at you, young kids look at you, what you do on the ice. I guess this exemplifies that it's doable and I'm honored to have won it three times now and it means a great deal to me."
Kopitar is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, and he also won the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward twice (2015-16, 2017-18) and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award (2021-22).
He finished first in the balloting with 856 points, followed by Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning (793 points), Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights (782), the Carolina Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin (760) and the Montreal Canadians' Nick Suzukl.
The Kings selected him with the 11th overall pick of the 2005 NHL Draft.

Oilers' Jeff Skinner, Troy Stecher to play in Game 4
Per head coach Kris Knoblauch, Skinner will replace Viktor Arvidsson and Stecher will draw in for John Klingberg as the Oilers bid to even their best-of-seven series at two wins apiece.
Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skated on Thursday morning and will be a game-time decision. Nugent-Hopkins, who is nursing an undisclosed injury, logged 15:34 of ice time in the Oilers' 6-1 setback in Game 3 on Monday.
Skinner, 33, has been idle since scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on May 29. He also has an assist in two playoff games this spring.
Stecher, 31, has recorded a plus-3 rating while averaging 15:56 of ice time in six postseason games.
"Troy's been very valuable to our team through the regular season and playoffs," Knoblauch said Wednesday. "I think probably one thing we as a coaching staff appreciate a lot from Troy is how dependable he is. No matter if he's playing big minutes, regularly, hasn't played for a long period of time, anytime we've needed him, he's given us really good minutes and usually is not making mistakes. As a defenseman, that's really important."
Klingberg committed a turnover in overtime of Game 2 that nearly led to a game-ending goal. He also had a turnover that led to Sam Reinhart's goal in the second period of Game 3.

Report: Rangers' Chris Kreider signs off on trade to Ducks
Kreider, who first suited up for the Rangers in the 2012 NHL playoffs, gave the OK on the reported deal Thursday morning. The Ducks were on the forward's 15-team no-trade list.
Multiple media reports said the Rangers will receive forward Carey Terrance and a mid-round draft pick from the Ducks for Kreider and another mid-round pick. Anaheim also will take on all of Kreider's $6.5 million cap hit over each of the next two seasons.
Kreider, 34, is entering the sixth season of a seven-year, $45.5 million contract. The Massachusetts native is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.
Kreider and then-Rangers captain Jacob Trouba were made available on the trade market earlier this season following a league-wide memo from New York general manager Chris Drury. The Ducks then acquired Trouba on Dec. 6 for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Kreider recorded just 30 points (22 goals, eight assists) in 68 games this season while nursing both back spasms and an illness.
Earlier, he discussed his desire to stay in New York.
"I mean, this is home for me," Kreider said in late April, per the New York Post. "This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to live out my dream. I've developed so many incredible relationships and grown up and spent so much time in this area. So, obviously, this is where I want to be and this is the group I want to help in whatever fashion and win hockey games."
The franchise's third all-time leading goal scorer (326), Kreider also has 256 assists for 582 points in 883 career games since the Rangers selected him with the 19th overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
Terrance, 20, was selected by the Ducks in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He recorded 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 45 games this past season with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.

Panthers prepared for Oilers' best in crucial Game 4
Now, the Oilers must find a way to turn their angst into a victory or risk falling into a dangerously deep hole when they resume the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday in Sunrise, Fla.
With the Panthers leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, the next clash could either send the series back to Edmonton all-square -- and with the Oilers regaining the home-ice advantage -- or put the Panthers on the cusp of a second consecutive title against the Oilers.
"We've always been a good team at coming back out with a strong effort," Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said of turning the page from Monday's 6-1 loss. "Obviously it was not our best showing, not our best game, but we have a great chance ... to show what our team is all about."
Edmonton must do more than just talk about a better performance. The Oilers reached this point thanks to an improved defense to go with their high-octane attack, but they have been undisciplined in the finals and have struggled keeping pucks out of their net.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner is under the microscope having surrendered 13 goals in the series, and boasting an .866 save percentage. But the Oilers as a whole must find another gear to send the series back to their home on even ground.
"It's one game. We're looking for the whole series," Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. "We know we're down 2-1 and we gotta be better next game ... but we're one win away from having the best-out-of-three (series) with two home games."
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Wednesday there probably will be a lineup change. Troy Stecher is a possibility to move in for defenseman John Klingberg, while Knoblauch would not divulge who will start in goal.
Although they lead the series, the Panthers will look forward and not gloat over their early series lead.
Sure, Florida played a fantastic game, but the message from coach Paul Maurice is to park that victory and prepare to earn the next one because he does not believe momentum carries forward to the next outing.
"Every game starts at zeros, and it's a reset and it's a mental reset," Maurice said. "We got beat 8-1 in Edmonton (in Game 4 during last year's finals) and then came back and played Game 5 here, and for me that was the best game we played in the entire playoffs and we lost the game."
After the Panthers slammed the door against Edmonton's dynamic duo, they had best be ready for Edmonton's best effort. Draisaitl was held without a shot attempt for the Oilers and Connor McDavid managed only a pair of shots and no points.
"The experience of taking a beating and then being able to come back and play your next game lets you know (character is) there," Maurice said. "It's also what we expect from Edmonton."
What bodes well for the defending Stanley Cup champions is that a pair of top-tier players had their best game of the series in Game 3.
Sam Reinhart, who has been playing through an injury during the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, scored once in a two-point outing. Captain Aleksander Barkov has been held without a point in the series but was instrumental in Reinhart's goal by creating a turnover that led to the score.
"I always can be better but all I'm thinking about is winning the game," Barkov said.

Avalanche's Cale Makar wins second Norris Trophy
The award is presented "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position," as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
"Any time you get recognized for something like this, it's very cool," Makar, 26, said. "It's very special to be able to (win) this a second time. To have the group of guys that we did -- it seems cliche to say, but it's truly a team award.
"We had a fun year and it'll be more fun hopefully continuing, but this one's for them."
Makar learned that he won the award during a recent golf outing with family and friends in Calgary, his hometown.
He joins Hall of Fame members Bobby Orr (eight times), Denis Potvin and Paul Coffey (three times), and Rod Langway (two times) as players to win multiple Norris Trophies before turning 27. Current Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson also won twice before his 27th birthday.
Makar took home 176 of the 191 first-place votes and recorded 1,861 voting points to win the Norris Trophy for the first time since 2021-22. He has been a finalist for the award in five of his first six NHL seasons.
Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets received 13 first-place votes and finished with 1,266 points, while Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes had two first-place votes and 918 points. Hughes was seeking to become the first repeat winner of the award since Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings captured three in a row from 2005-06 through 2007-08.
Makar opened the season with a 13-game point streak. He led all NHL defensemen in goals (30), assists (62) and points (92) this season.

Reports: Ducks closing in on acquiring Chris Kreider from Rangers
Per the report, there was "mutual interest" between the teams and the "framework of a deal in place."
Kreider, 34, is entering the sixth season of a seven-year, $45.5 million contract with an annual cap hit of $6.5 million. The Massachusetts native is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.
Kreider and then-Rangers captain Jacob Trouba were made available on the trade market earlier this season following a league-wide memo from New York general manager Chris Drury. The Ducks then acquired Trouba on Dec. 6 for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Kreider recorded just 30 points (22 goals, eight assists) in 68 games this season while nursing both back spasms and an illness.
Earlier, he discussed his desire to stay in New York.
"I mean, this is home for me," Kreider said in late April, per the New York Post. "This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to live out my dream. I've developed so many incredible relationships and grown up and spent so much time in this area. So, obviously, this is where I want to be and this is the group I want to help in whatever fashion and win hockey games."
The franchise's third all-time leading goal scorer (326), Kreider also has 256 assists for 582 points in 883 career games since the Rangers selected him with the 19th overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Canadiens D Lane Hutson claims Calder Trophy
The trophy is awarded annually "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Hutson earned 165 of a possible 191 first-place votes and totaled 1,832 points, finishing well ahead of Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (15, 1,169) and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (11, 1,104).
The 21-year-old Hutson received the trophy at a surprise party his family had organized to celebrate his selection as a finalist.
Hutson led all rookies with 66 points, and his 60 assists tied the single-season NHL record for most by a rookie defenseman alongside Larry Murphy.
Celebrini, 18, played 70 games and scored 25 goals -- second among rookies behind the Philadelphia Flyers' Matvei Michkov -- and his 63 points tied with Michkov for second.
Wolf, 24, was 29-16-8 with a 2.64 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts for the Flames, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 draft.

Panthers cruise to Game 3 win over Oilers
The Panthers hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading to Game 4 on Thursday night in Sunrise.
Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett also scored, Eetu Luostarinen had two assists and Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves for the Panthers, who are trying to become the third team to repeat as Stanley Cup champion in the past 10 years.
Corey Perry scored for the Oilers, who are hoping to become the first franchise from Canada to win the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
Stuart Skinner surrendered five goals on 23 shots before he was replaced early in the third period by Calvin Pickard, who finished with seven saves.
Marchand scored his fourth goal of the series 56 seconds into the game.
The puck caromed to Marchand in the slot and he brought it back to the inside edge of the right circle before scoring with a snap shot. Skinner was off balance in front of the crease when the puck hit the net to give Florida a 1-0 lead.
The teams combined for seven power plays in the opening period and the Panthers scored on the last when the Oilers left room for Verhaeghe to skate into the right circle and score with a wrist shot for a 2-0 lead at 17:45.
Edmonton was on the eighth power play to start the second period when Perry scored a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1 at 1:40.
Florida answered 1:20 later when Reinhart shot the puck between the legs of Oilers defenseman John Klingberg from the left faceoff circle and past Skinner to re-establish the two-goal lead at 3-1.
Bennett and Luostarinen then sprung loose on a 2-on-0 break and Bennett finished it off for his fourth goal of the series and 14th of the postseason to make it 4-1 at 7:26.
Florida added another power-play goal at 3:27 of the third period to stretch the lead to 5-1. Ekblad took a feed from Reinhart and scored with a one-timer from the inside edge of the right circle, ending the night for Skinner.
Rodrigues scored with a one-timer during a 5-on-3 power play with 3:50 left to make it 6-1.
The teams combined for 140 penalty minutes.

Capitals F T.J. Oshie, 38, retires after decorated career
Oshie, who did not play in 2024-25 due to a back injury, split his 1,010 career games between the St. Louis Blues (2008-15) and Washington Capitals (2015-24). The Blues selected him in the first round of the 2005 draft, 24th overall.
He helped the Capitals win their first and only Stanley Cup in 2018, tallying eight goals (six on the power play) and 13 assists across 24 playoff games.
"I would like to thank the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love, all of my teammates who battled with me every night, my coaches who challenged me to be better every day, and the athletic trainers and equipment staff who got me ready to play," Oshie said in a statement via the NHL Players Association.
"I also want to thank the fans your energy and passion made every game memorable, and it was an honor to play in front of you."
Oshie tallied 695 points in his career (302 goals, 393 assists) and managed double-digit goals in all but one of his 16 seasons. His high-water mark came in 2016-17, when he had 33 goals in 68 games for the Capitals.
Oshie was voted to one All-Star Game, representing the Capitals in the 2019-20 season. Injuries limited him to 44 games in 2021-22, 58 in 2022-23 and 52 in 2023-24.
A native of Washington State, Oshie is also known for his heroics during the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The U.S. went to a shootout against Russia in the preliminary round. International rules allowed for players to be re-used limitlessly in the shootout, and Oshie was used six times -- including five shots in a row. Oshie scored on four of his attempts, including the winner in the eighth shootout round.
According to the Capitals, Oshie ranks second in NHL history in shootout shooting percentage with a minimum of 100 attempts (47.1 percent). He is third all-time in game-deciding shootout goals (21) and tied for third in total shootout goals (49).

Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed injury) game-time call for Game 3
The Oilers did not disclose Nugent-Hopkins' injury. The forward missed Sunday's practice.
"We think (he'll be available)," Knoblauch said. "We'll play it by ear."
Edmonton's fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs at 18 points (five goals, 13 assists), Nugent-Hopkins took 31 shifts totaling 25:45 of ice time in Friday's double-overtime Game 2.
The Oilers dropped that contest 5-4 to allow the Panthers to even the series at 1-1.
Nugent-Hopkins, who has spent 14 seasons with the franchise that selected him No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft, tallied 20 goals and 29 assists in 78 regular-season games.

Panthers, Oilers to feast on Finals intensity in Game 3
Each side has an overtime victory heading to Game 3 on Monday night in Sunrise, Fla., leaving the best-of-seven series tied 1-1.
"They're very intense games," Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. "It's exciting to be a part of."
The only two-goal lead of the series lasted about as long as a commercial break.
After the Panthers went ahead 3-1 during the early parts of the second period of Game 1 on Wednesday, the Oilers not only closed the gap 1:17 later, but scored the final three goals of the game to win 4-3.
And when Edmonton forward Corey Perry scored with 18 seconds left in regulation in Game 2 on Friday, the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history, the Oilers seemed to have momentum fully on their side.
That fizzled out as the game carried into the second overtime, however, and Marchand won it with his second goal of the game and third of the series.
"When you win the first one, you're disappointed when you don't follow up and win the second one, but we're going (to Florida) with a split," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "That's fine with us."
Marchand has lived up to his billing after the Panthers acquired him from the Boston Bruins on March 7 for a conditional second-round draft pick.
Marchand spent his first couple weeks in Florida recovering from an injury, but the 37-year-old has come alive in these playoffs, totaling seven goals and 10 assists through 19 games.
"He's been incredible for us this whole playoffs, scoring massive goals at massive times," Panthers forward Sam Bennett said. "That one (in overtime) was definitely the biggest."
Marchand now has 10 goals in the Stanley Cup Final in his career, including two short-handed.
"He's a gamer. He's a competitor," Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said. "He brings so much energy to our team on and off the ice."
Jones is another player who has fit in seamlessly after arriving from the Chicago Blackhawks on March 1 in exchange for goalie Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round draft pick.
"Our system is very aggressive," Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling said. "You need to be able to skate and I think all those guys can skate really well. I think everyone's on the same page and it's very easy to jump into our team and our lineup."
The Panthers also received good news on the defensive side when Aaron Ekblad took part in the optional practice on Sunday after taking a shot off his hand in the second overtime on Friday.
The Oilers lost their first two road games of the playoffs at the Los Angeles Kings, but have since won six of seven away from Edmonton.
"We know we're comfortable playing on the road," Knoblauch said. "We've won a lot of games so far in the regular season and playoffs, so we'll get ready for Game 3."
Edmonton center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, fourth on the team with 18 points in the postseason, did not practice on Sunday and will be a game-time decision, said Knoblauch, who did not provide a reason.
The high-scoring duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have done their part to try to bring Edmonton its first Stanley Cup title since 1990.
McDavid has five assists through the first two games and Draisaitl has three goals and an assist, including the overtime goal in Game 1.

Panthers D Aaron Ekblad (hand) participates in practice
Ekblad sustained an injured left hand after he was hit by a shot from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse during the second overtime of Florida's 5-4 victory in Game 2 of the finals. Brad Marchand scored later in the session for the Panthers, who tied the best-of-seven series at one win apiece.
Ekblad, 29, has recorded 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and averaged 23:58 of ice time in 15 playoff games.
He totaled 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 56 games during the regular season.
Florida made Ekblad the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, and he has spent his entire 11-year career with the franchise. He has 380 points (118 goals, 262 assists) in 732 career games.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery claims Jack Adams Award
The honor is presented to the NHL coach who is judged to have made the biggest contribution to a team's success.
While attending what he thought was a season-ending interview, the 43-year-old Carbery was presented with the award by his wife, Casey, and their children, Hudson and Vivian.
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"Wow, I had no idea," a clearly stunned and choked-up Carbery said.
If that weren't emotional enough for Carbery, extended family members from throughout the U.S. and Canada also were there to share in the moment.
Carbery led the Capitals to a 51-22-9 (111 points) record this season as the team finished first in the Eastern Conference in his second season as Washington's coach. He becomes the fourth coach in franchise history to win the award, joining Bryan Murray (1983-84), Bruce Boudreau (2007-08) and Barry Trotz (2015-16).
He is also the first person recognized as coach of the year in the ECHL, AHL and NHL.
The members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association select the Jack Adams winner.
Carbery received 81 first-place votes on the 103 ballots cast and finished with 464 points. Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets had 249 points, followed by Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens with 66.
The Capitals lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

Panthers even Cup series with Oilers on Brad Marchand's 2OT goal
After the Panthers surrendered a final-minute Oilers goal to force overtime, they recovered thanks to Marchand's breakaway tally at 8:05 of the second overtime period, his second tally of the night.
Seth Jones collected one goal and one assist while Sam Bennett and Dmitry Kulikov notched singles for the Panthers, who tied the best-of-seven series at 1. Nate Schmidt and Anton Lundell added a pair of assists for the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves, his biggest against a Kasperi Kapanen chance off a rush minutes before the winner.
Both games went to overtime after the Panthers surrendered third-period leads.
The series moves to Sunrise, Fla., for Game 3 on Monday.
Evan Bouchard scored once in a three-point game for the Oilers, while Leon Draisaitl netted one goal and one assist and Evander Kane and Corey Perry scored once. Connor McDavid posted three assists and goalie Stuart Skinner stopped 37 shots.
Just like the series opener, both teams staked and lost a lead. Bennett kicked off the wild first period with his league-high 13th goal of the playoffs, a quick-release, power-play marker at the 2:07 mark.
The Oilers responded with a pair of tallies 100 seconds apart before the midway point of the frame. Kane put the hosts on the board at 7:39 by burying a shot off the wing, and Bouchard gave Edmonton its first lead right after when his second attempt from the high slot found the sweet spot.
Jones evened the score at 11:37 of the period when he found an open net after a cross-ice feed from Eetu Luostarinen. However, Draisaitl made it a 3-2 game exactly one minute later with a tap-in power-play goal set up by McDavid.
Kulikov again tied the clash at 8:23 of the second period, banking his point shot off Bouchard's body, and Marchand's short-handed breakaway goal, gave the Panthers a 4-3 edge at 12:09 of the second period.
But with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker, Perry chipped into the net a loose puck with 17.8 seconds remaining in regulation, the latest tying goal in Finals history.

Avs F Logan O'Connor to miss 5-6 months after hip surgery
In 80 games during the 2024-25 season, O'Connor had 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) and finished 29th in voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, given to the top defensive forward.
In seven NHL seasons, all with the Avalanche, the 28-year-old has 103 points (45 goals, 58 assists) in 343 career games.

Stars fire Peter DeBoer after 3rd straight West finals exit
DeBoer, 56, posted a 149-68-29 record during the regular season, however the Stars fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in 2023 and the Edmonton Oilers in six and five games in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
DeBoer came under fire for pulling standout goaltender Jake Oettinger after the latter surrendered two goals on the first two shots he faced in a season-ending 6-3 setback to Edmonton in Game 5 on May 29.
"After careful consideration, we believe that a new voice is needed in our locker room to push us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup," Stars general manager Jim Nill said. "We'd like to thank Pete for everything that he has helped our organization achieve over the past three seasons and wish him nothing but the best moving forward."
DeBoer has posted a 662-447-152 coaching record with the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Golden Knights and Stars. He guided the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012 and the Sharks to the finals in 2016.

Panthers hope to use 1-0 Final deficit to their advantage vs. Oilers
Florida appeared to have the series opener in hand when they held a 3-1 lead early in the second period, and even when it was a one-goal edge in the third period. However, the Panthers received the whole Oilers treatment when that lead disappeared and became a 4-3 overtime loss on Wednesday.
And now the pressure is on Florida.
"We've said it a bunch, it's that ‘us against the world' mindset," Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "But you really feel it, especially being down in a series ... in a hostile environment and we feel like that's when we're at our best. So hopefully we can use that to our advantage."
The result ended the Panthers' run of 29 consecutive playoff victories when leading after the second period. For so many of those wins, it was Florida that was able to put down the hammer and close out the clash.
Instead, the Oilers took control and outshot the visitors 14-2 in the third period and 10-6 in extra time, capped by Leon Draisaitl's second goal of the game at 19:29 of overtime.
It was a pulsating way to start this rematch of last year's final.
"They're better, we're better. It's going to be a great series," Tkachuk said.
A saving grace for the Panthers is their experience and ability to handle the ups and downs of a playoff series. They erased a 2-0 series deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round.
"We learn more from adversity than we do from winning," forward Carter Verhaeghe said. "I think every time you lose games or go through a series where you're down, or losing in the cup final a couple years ago, you learn a lot. It's just sticking with it and being mentally strong."
The Oilers, who never led last year's finals meeting with Florida in what was a thrilling seven-game series, know they have the upper hand, but are also aware of the importance of a follow-up victory in Game 2.
After all, home-ice advantage only makes a difference if you win those games at home, and the Oilers have a sparkling 7-1 playoff mark before their frenzied faithful.
"They're going to flush it," said defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who netted the third-period game-tying goal. "They're going to come back better for Game 2. ... We know we've got three more wins to go, and it's going to be a battle."
The victory not only gives Edmonton a 4-0 record in overtime clashes this spring, but it was the fourth third-period comeback of the playoffs and seventh when trailing at any point. As much as the Oilers would love to win each and every game with a wire-to-wire lead, they never feel out of a game when they trail.
Then again, when your team boasts a dynamic offensive duo of Connor McDavid (who collected two assists and set up the winning goal) and Draisaitl, a comeback is always possible.
"Our room's always kind of the same," defenseman Darnell Nurse said. "The guys are focused on the task at hand. I think it comes from the maturity of the group."
They showed it again on a night Draisaitl netted his third overtime winner in this year's playoffs and 50th career playoff tally.
"It's tough to describe," Draisaitl said. "You're obviously locked in, and especially on the power play, you're looking to finish it. ... It's a special feeling. It's great for right now, but we've got to look ahead and get ready for Game 2."

Bruins tab former player Marco Sturm as new head coach
Sturm, 46, will be a head coach for the first time in the league.
The Bruins punched their ticket to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons before limping to an Atlantic Division-worst 33-39-10 record in 2024-25. Boston replaced head coach Jim Montgomery after 20 games on Nov. 19, with interim head coach Joe Sacco finishing the season with a 25-30-7 mark.
Sturm said he welcomes the opportunity to preside over a team he represented from 2005-10.
"I'm incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins," Sturm said. "I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, (Bruins president) Cam Neely, and (general manager) Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I've felt that passion as a player, and I can't wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I'm excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed."
Sweeney credited Sturm's attention to defensive hockey as one of the reasons for his hiring.
"Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively," Sweeney said. "We were also looking for a communicator and leader -- someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room."
Sturm has coached Ontario of the American Hockey League for the past three seasons, guiding the Reign to the playoffs in all three campaigns.
Sturm totaled 487 points (242 goals, 245 assists) in 938 career games with the San Jose Sharks, Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers. He was traded from the Sharks to the Bruins as part of the Joe Thornton deal on Nov. 30, 2005.
Sturm is Germany's all-time leader in NHL games played.