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| Lax with the lead: Panthers' rare playoff collapse in the Stanley Cup Finals! |
Dhaka, 5 June 2025 – The defending champion Florida Panthers suffered an unexpected setback in the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost 4-3 in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers, a rare playoff defeat for them. Even with a comfortable lead, the Panthers let up, which the Oilers took advantage of to make a dramatic comeback and snatch the victory in overtime.
The Florida Panthers had been undefeated in playoff games for nearly three years under coach Paul Morris. They had won 31 consecutive playoff games with a lead after the first or second period. That incredible streak came to an end on Wednesday night.
The Panthers led 3-1 in the second period and seemed to be in control of the game. But then their style of play changed, they adopted a more defensive and "safe" strategy. The Oilers took advantage of this and regained momentum. Edmonton scored three goals in a row, including the overtime winner by Leon Draisaitl.
Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who scored twice in the game, admitted that the team's strategy change was a mistake. "You can't give up. You can't sit back. We haven't sat back with a lead all year," Bennett said, "but tonight we sat back for some reason."
Coach Paul Morris also criticized his team's performance in the third period and overtime, where they were outshot 24–8 by the Oilers. He cited a "lack of competition" in key plays and a tendency to be "a little too safe with the puck."
The decline is particularly surprising for a team like the Panthers, known for their constant forechecks and aggressive play. Last year, they won the Stanley Cup by winning Game 7 against the Oilers despite leading 3-0 in the series (a different situation than this single-game collapse), but this first-game loss highlights the need to adjust quickly.
The Panthers have now fallen behind in the series for the first time this postseason, as they did in the second round against Toronto, although they later came back to win Game 7. Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals will be played in Edmonton on Friday night, where the Panthers will look to bounce back to avoid falling further behind in the series.
