The Edmonton Oilers clawed their way back into the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night, and according to Leon Draisaitl, veteran leadership made all the difference.
After getting blitzed in Game 3 and falling behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 4, the Oilers looked shaky heading into the intermission. Spirits were low, momentum was gone, and that’s when Oilers teammate Corey Perry stepped in. Whatever he said, it worked.
“Corey spoke up,” Draisaitl said after the game. “When he speaks up, you listen, and you do what he says. We did a great job of grabbing it, grabbing some momentum and keeping it.”
What’s next? The Panthers came out flying, pinning Edmonton deep and grabbing a quick lead. But that dominance didn’t carry over. After Perry’s locker room address, the Oilers flipped the script. They stormed back to force overtime, where Draisaitl buried the game-winner, his second goal of the Final and fourth overtime marker of the playoffs.
Corey Perry’s Speech Sparked Epic Comeback
Although Perry has played over 1,300 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup, he isn’t one to give fiery locker-room speeches.
Corey Perry spoke up during the first intermission when the Oilers were trailing 3-0.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 13, 2025
“I’m not gonna share exactly what he said,” Draisaitl added. “But the message is that he’s been in these moments. He’s not a guy that speaks up or yells at guys all the time, that’s not his character. So, you know when a guy like that, with that many games, that much experience—he’s won everything there is to win—when he speaks up, you listen. It grabs your attention.”
LEON DRAISAITL DELIVERS IN OT! ⛽️
THE OILERS TIE THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL WITH DRAI’S SUBWAY CANADA OT WINNER! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D1om10yWLv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 13, 2025
The Oilers responded with pace and edge. Their top line tightened up, and backup goaltender Calvin Pickard, who replaced Stuart Skinner after the first, made several key saves to steady the ship. Meanwhile, Florida struggled to keep up and took costly penalties that swung the momentum.
With the series now tied 2–2, the narrative has shifted. After being humbled 6-1 in Game 3, Edmonton is back in the fight, and they owe a big part of that to their 40-year-old veteran.
“We were kinda lollygagging around a little bit. Certainly not the time to lollygag around, right? Especially after getting spanked in Game 3,” Draisaitl said.
Game 5 now heads to Edmonton, where the Oilers have a chance to take control of what has become a fiercely contested Stanley Cup Final. Perry’s impact won’t show on the scoresheet, but inside that locker room, it may have saved the season.
