Leon Draisaitl made a significant impact in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 6. This win forces a Game 7 to be played in South Florida.
After falling behind 3-0 in the series, the Oilers have now tied the final, a feat last achieved by the Detroit Red Wings in 1945. They have the opportunity to make history by becoming only the second NHL team, after the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the Stanley Cup.
Connor McDavid’s standout performances in Games 4 and 5, alongside Draisaitl’s pivotal play in Game 5, have fueled the Oilers’ comeback. Draisaitl’s setup for Warren Foegele’s goal and goals from Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman propelled Edmonton to victory in Game 6.
The Panthers, despite reaching the final for the second consecutive year and winning the first three games of the series, looked uncharacteristically shaky in Game 6. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky faced a relentless Oilers offense and was unable to stop the onslaught.
Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner made crucial saves throughout the game, limiting Florida to just one goal scored by Aleksander Barkov early in the third period. The Oilers’ defensive efforts, combined with timely scoring, secured the win and forced a decisive Game 7.
The atmosphere at Rogers Place was electric, with fans rallying behind their team as they chanted for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The city of Edmonton was buzzing with excitement, dreaming of another championship banner being raised in the rafters.
