Panthers Blow Three-Goal Lead, Lose Game 4

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are 32-2 in their last 34 playoff games when holding a lead after the first or second period. Those two losses have come within the past week, at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Panthers held a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes in Thursday’s Game 4 Stanley Cup matchup. A couple of goals from Matthew Tkachuk and a wrister from Anton Lundell had some fans planning their series-clinching watch parties for Saturday. But much like Game 1’s overtime loss in Edmonton, the Panthers saw their lead dwindle away in Sunrise.

Three unanswered goals from the Oilers in the second period changed the complexion of the game. The defensive-minded Panthers weren’t pressing like they usually do when holding onto a lead. It certainly was a far cry from when they held onto a one-goal lead for the final 25 minutes of Game 7 last year against this same Oilers team.

“They got one early on the power play, and then they kept coming,” Tkachuk said. “We probably got a little too stretched out, we weren’t as connected.’’

The Oilers took the lead with 6:26 in the third. Aleksander Barkov turned the puck over in the defensive zone, allowing Kasperi Kapanen to set up Jake Walman with a heavy slapshot from the faceoff circle.

Sam Reinhart tied the game with 20 seconds left on a sick high-angle shot that went top-shelf.

But, just like Game 1, Leon Draisaitl sent everyone home. Twelve minutes into overtime, he sent a backhander past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

LEON DRAISAITL IN OVERTIME AGAIN 🤯 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/f4UYcpoE2i

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 13, 2025

Draisaitl was able to get the shot off despite AJ Greer jockeying with him down the ice. The puck looked like it glanced off Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola.

“It doesn’t matter at this point,” Bobrovsky said. “It is what it is, and we move on.”

The series is tied at 2-2, with both Florida losses coming off multi-goal collapses. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice doesn’t sound concerned.

“It would be better if we’d won it,’’ Maurice said. “We had planned for seven games. That means you’re losing three of them. Take that pain and use it to come back.”

Game 5 is at 8 pm on Tuesday in Edmonton.