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As The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun put it, if the Edmonton Oilers go on to lift the Stanley Cup and end Canada’s 32-year championship drought, fans will forever remember the night of June 12, 2025. Game 4 was a thrilling rollercoaster ride, culminating in a record-breaking overtime comeback win. Down 3-0 after one period, Corey Perry spoke up during the first intermission, and the Oilers made a goaltending change. Edmonton came out with four straight goals, allowed one from Florida’s Sam Reinhart, but then Leon Draisaitl won it in overtime.
As stunning, unforgettable, and necessary as it was, it was anything but perfect.
Game 4 also exposed the glaring issues that have plagued Edmonton all series, and for much of these playoffs. The series may be tied, and the Oilers can breathe a little. That said, there’s plenty of reason for concern moving forward.
The Oilers’ penalty problem is a serious one
The Oilers knew after Game 3 that they needed to come out strong in Game 4. What did they do? They took several undisciplined penalties and played one of their worst periods. The team’s inability to stay out of the box and get into their game remains the biggest red flag for this team. If they keep doing it, they will lose this series.
Through four games, Edmonton has surrendered seven power-play goals to Florida on 21 opportunities. That’s a penalty kill efficiency of just 66.7%, which makes last season’s kill look like a gift that will never be repeated. The Oilers have not done a good job killing off power plays, at least, not good enough to feel comfortable taking errant high-sticking or tripping penalties.
Even after Edmonton got in trouble in the first, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins almost got suckered in by Brad Marchand and got away with a trip. The refs missed on that, but the point remains: the Oilers can’t seem to help themselves, even when they know it’s killing them.
Evander Kane has now taken three first-period penalties in the last two games. Corey Perry gets in penalty trouble, as does Darnell Nurse. Mattias Ekholm took another high-sticking call, and these aren’t the only players drawing attention from the officials. These penalties have directly led to the Panthers’ goals, and if the Oilers continue to give the Panthers chances, they will capitalize on them.
At some point, if the Oilers continue to let the officials dictate the series, it will become too overwhelming.
Pickard saves the day
Stuart Skinner deserved better on Thursday. Having said that, thank goodness for Calvin Pickard. The timely goaltending change boosted the Oilers’ play into a much better style of hockey, and the team now has confidence in front of the backup. He didn’t let them down, and he’ll likely get the start in Game 5, and potentially for the rest of the series.
Pickard cannot be the reason the Oilers win this series. He was calm, steady, and gave Edmonton a chance to claw back, but there will be a game that Florida gets to him: They get to everyone. Can Pickard play this way for three more games? That’s a massive question the Oilers shouldn’t be forcing an answer to. The Oilers need to play a full 60 minutes in front of whomever is the goaltender, and they’ve not done that in any of the four games in this series.
From the opening shift of Game 3 — where the Oilers looked lost defensively against Brad Marchand — to much of the first period in Game 4, Edmonton’s defensive zone coverage has been chaotic. They’ve struggled with Florida’s relentless forecheck, coughed up pucks under pressure, and failed to clear their zone cleanly.
Outlet passes that were a strength in previous series have disappeared and John Klingberg was pulled for Troy Stecher, who barely played in Game 4.
This series could have easily been 2-0 for the Panthers going back to Florida. That it’s tied 2-2 is a matter of a bounce or two.
Are the Oilers running out of miracles?
One reason Edmonton survived Thursday night was the veteran leadership shown by Perry’s fiery intermission speech. Last season, it was Connor McDavid blowing up on the team, and them responding with three straight wins. Teams need this kind of tough love, but they shouldn’t have to rely on it to dig themselves out of holes.
This is an Oilers team that knows what’s at stake. They’ve felt the heartbreak of coming so close only to let it slip through their fingers. No one should be as motivated or hungry as this Oilers team, yet they continue to need wake-up calls to spark incredible comebacks and earn almost impossible wins.
On Thursday, the Oilers did what no team had ever done in a Stanley Cup Final — come back from down three goals after the first period. If Game 4 proves anything, it’s just how fragile their margin for error is. Edmonton can’t keep relying on miracles from Draisaitl, McDavid, or a fired-up speech from Perry. They need to play better hockey from the drop of the puck. Florida is too good to keep getting away with lackluster starts or gaps in good play.
Game 5 shifts back to Edmonton, where the Oilers can show this game was the last real wake-up call they need. If they finally got the memo, the Panthers are in trouble. If not, this could be a long three-game series.
More must-reads:
- An unlikely hero helps the Oilers drag Panthers back to Alberta
- 25 great NHL teams that somehow didn't win the Stanley Cup
- The '50-goal NHL seasons since 2000-01' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Canucks Could Circle Back to Star Player Via Trade After New Opportunity Presents Itself
Elite Scouting's Cam Robinson stated that the Canucks may consider circling back to Marco Rossi via trade if they feel like they can no longer get Jack Roslovic. The Canucks are entering the 2025-26 NHL season more enthusiastically than ever before. With the team's new head coach, Adam Foote, and their ace captain Quinn Hughes, along with Elias Pettersson, the stakes are very high. However, their team's roster is incomplete, and their GM, Patrik Allvin, appears eager to zero in on two major stars in order to plug the holes. Coming up short the previous year, the stakes are high in Vancouver. The fans are tired of settling, as they expect the Stanley Cup, and only that. One of only a handful of franchises that have never won the trophy, the Canucks are subjected to intense scrutiny. Elias Pettersson, 26, is the focal point of the playoffs-or-bust mentality of Vancouver, and the team is hoping he comes through. Adam Foote, after the firing of Rick Tocchet, will also face the spotlight in his first year behind the Canucks bench. The Canucks are Trying to Sign Jack Roslovic, but Could Circle Back to a Trade Rounding out the wish list, Patrik Allvin is reportedly chasing two of the sport's largest names in UFA Jack Roslovic and RFA Marco Rossi. Jack Roslovic is one of the sport's remaining premier free agents, himself being courted by the likes of the Maple Leafs and Avalanche. Marco Rossi is being held in the club's grasp, but negotiations have been shelved since June. Re Canucks and Jack Roslovic: 'If it's not him, I know they were trying to get Marco Rossi too; maybe there is an opportunity to circle back.' - Cam Robinson The Canucks offered the 15th overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft for the rights of Rossi, but the Wild turned them down. However, Vancouver could now return. An offer sheet is not in the mix, but a trade has not been ruled out. By obtaining either of the two stars, the Canucks would receive the missing piece the club needs to tread in the right direction toward the much-coveted playoffs, and a possible shot at the Stanley Cup.
'Very Dangerous:' Yankees’ Trade Addition Makes Feelings Clear After Rays Game
The New York Yankees haven't gotten superstars as Thursday's Trade Deadline approaches, but they did add depth that could change the course of their season. They acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario over the past week, the former of whom has already made his presence felt. McMahon recorded hits in his first three games with the team before going 0-for-4 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. However, the 30-year-old went 2-for-4 with an RBI against them on Wednesday, including a walkoff single to center in the 11th inning. McMahon opened up about his experience with the team so far postgame, via SNY. "It just feels good to come through for the team," he said. "Everyone matters in this chase, so just happy to come through." "It's a lot of fun being here and being in this clubhouse," he continued. "It's a very dangerous team. I've seen it from afar, playing against them..." New York was down 1-0 from the third inning until the eighth, when Trent Grisham hit a solo homer to right. Giancarlo Stanton followed up with an RBI single, giving the team a 2-1 lead. Closer Devin Williams then blew the save in the ninth inning after allowing two runs, but Anthony Volpe tied the contest in the bottom frame with a solo homer to left. After that, Tampa Bay's Jonathan Aranda hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th before Cody Bellinger hit an RBI triple to center in the bottom frame. New York reliever Tim Hill then threw a scoreless inning in the 11th, and McMahon followed up with his walkoff single. The Yankees have now won three of their last four games.
Yankees' planned fire sale after Aaron Judge injury epitomizes roster weakness
Would the New York Yankees still be a heavyweight contender without Aaron Judge? Most fans would doubt it. What comes as a shock is that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appears to agree. According to MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY, Cashman had explored the option of selling ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline (6 p.m. EST) if Judge’s flexor strain had turned out to be something worse. Martino wrote this: “[On Saturday], we relayed that the Yankees were floating some of their free-agent-to-be relievers in preliminary trade talks. We have since learned through league sources that last week the Yanks brought up Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt in talks with at least one other club.” It would be strange to see a team with a record well above .500 shop core hitters at the deadline. Both Bellinger and Goldschmidt — hitting .281/.333/.507 with 19 home runs and .283/.341/.419 with eight home runs, respectively, entering Tuesday — have been valuable producers for the Yankees this year. Goldschmidt signed a one-year deal with the Bronx Bombers over the offseason, while Bellinger was acquired via trade with the Cubs. He is signed through 2026 but has a player option at the end of the year. Either player would bring a nice haul back to the Yankees. Of course, the reigning AL MVP’s injury doesn’t seem to be a season-altering, ‘abandon ship’ type of event. Optimistically, Judge should be back soon. But this does serve to illustrate how the team’s success is dependent on one player. Beyond Judge, the Yankees’ batting order doesn’t feature a star-caliber player, or at least a player the lineup can be built around. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, New York lacks enough solid hitters to be considered a worthy contender without Judge. The Yankees’ three bottom-of-the-order hitters — Austin Wells (.214), Anthony Volpe (.213) and newest acquisition Ryan McMahon (.223) — all own batting averages below .230 entering Tuesday. And this doesn’t include J.C. Escarra (.205), Oswald Peraza (.152) or even Ben Rice (.229). If Judge were lost for the season, selling wouldn’t have been a bad idea. He is an insoluble glue holding the battered Yankees’ roster together, especially with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt gone for the year. No one on the trade market could replace him, but with Judge coming back, the Yankees might have enough firepower to at least limp to the finish line.
Kings Up The Ante For Warriors-Jonathan Kuminga Sign & Trade
While the Golden State Warriors want restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga to bend knee, he’s betting on himself this offseason. As a result, he’s eschewed all opportunities to return to The Bay on their terms. In fact, at this point, it’s starting to sound as if he wants to get out of town by any means necessary. Ironically, that could lead to the 22-year-old combo forward joining a franchise that’s even more dysfunctional than the Warriors have been these past two seasons: the Sacramento Kings. Kings Up The Ante For Warriors-Jonathan Kuminga Sign Trade “He wants to go,” Andscape’s Marc J. Spears tells ESPN colleagues Malika Andrews and Kendrick Perkins. “He wants to go and the Kings are offering a starting spot (at) power forward next to Keegan Murray, next to (Domantas) Sabonis. He’s talked on a Zoom call with (general manager) Scott Perry, (assistant general manager) BJ Armstong, and also with their head coach (Doug Christie). So he’s in. He wants to go there… but, I think that first (round pick), the Warriors don’t like the first.” A previous report mentioned that Kuminga had met with Sacramento’s decision-makers. However, it was believed that the Kings had offered the Warriors a package of Devin Carter, Dario Saric and a second-round pick. Perhaps that really was the proposed package at the time. Nevertheless, the intel Spears received makes Golden State’s decision to dig in their heels a real head-scratcher. Letting Down Their Guard? “The Warriors have been defiant,” ESPN senior insider Shams Charania tells Andrews in a separate segment. “They want a good player. They also want an unprotected first-round pick — a good first-round pick. The Sacramento Kings, I’m told, have actually offered a first-round pick in those conversations. It’s been a conditional first-round pick, as well as a potential rotation player… but the Warriors wanted the Sacramento Kings to give an unprotected fully (sic) first-round pick.” The Kings have first-round picks available in each of the next five drafts, including two 2027 first-rounders (h/t ESPN). With that in mind, they can probably afford to give Golden State one that’s unconditional. Yet, the interest Kuminga has in signing with them combined with his disinterest in remaining with the Warriors and his ability to become an unrestricted free agent next year doesn’t give them much incentive to do so. That’s particularly true with the Phoenix Suns, who are also hot on Kuminga’s trail, not having a tradable first-round pick. Consequently, the Suns have offered four second-round picks, according to Spears. Notably, ESPN posted a graphic showing that Phoenix only has three tradable second-rounders.
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