**Panthers Face Major Lesson After Overtime Loss to Oilers in Game 1**

A crucial part of the Florida Panthers' success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the past three seasons has been their ability to close out games when leading. However, in their 4-3 overtime defeat to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place, Florida faced a critical challenge to that formula.

"Don't sit back," said Panthers center Sam Bennett. Reflecting on the loss, Bennett noted the team’s unusual decision to play conservatively once they had the lead, a deviation from their normally aggressive strategy.

The game ended with Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal at 19:29 of overtime, scored while Tomas Nosek was in the penalty box for a delay of game minor. Although Nosek’s unfortunate miscue was significant, Panthers forward Brad Marchand asserted that it wasn't the defining moment of the loss. “It’s a bad break," Marchand admitted, but acknowledged it was part of the game.

Marchand himself had put the Panthers ahead with a power-play goal at 12:30 in the first period, and Bennett’s second goal early in the second period made it 3-1. Despite a quick response by Edmonton’s Viktor Arvidsson to make the score 3-2, Florida maintained their lead heading into the third period—historically a strong position for them.

Heading into the final period, the Panthers had a track record of being unbeatable with a third-period lead, boasting a 31-0 record over the past three playoffs. However, despite their history and last year's championship win against the Oilers, where they secured the title by defending a lead in the third period, the Panthers faltered.

Edmonton's star Connor McDavid set up defenseman Mattias Ekholm for the tying goal early in the third period, shifting the momentum. The Panthers’ struggles were apparent as Edmonton outshot them 14-2 in the final period. "They just pushed," Marchand said, citing difficulties in maintaining offensive pressure and completing plays.

Florida managed to regain some footing as overtime began, registering three shots on goal early, but Edmonton’s goalie Stuart Skinner was impervious, stopping all 24 shots after the initial three Panther goals. The Oilers regained control, and Draisaitl’s decisive goal came from a slick pass by McDavid.

It marked Edmonton’s third multigoal comeback victory this postseason and the 41st in the history of the Cup Final. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 42 saves, noted the challenge ahead, emphasizing the importance of staying focused for the next game. Panthers coach Paul Maurice saw potential for improvement, particularly in maintaining leads.

Game 2 will also be in Edmonton before the series shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4. Maurice expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back, pointing to their resilience in earlier playoff rounds. "It [has] potential to be just a spectacular seven-gamer," he said.

With the series still in its early stages, the Panthers are focused on regrouping and adjusting their strategy to prevent a repeat of Game 1’s mistakes. "It's one game," Marchand reiterated, emphasizing the team's need to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past.