Live NHL Scores & Highlights Tonight: Last-Second Goals Shake Up the Playoff Race

The Stanley Cup Final opened with a thriller on Wednesday night as the Edmonton Oilers edged the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime, seizing a 1-0 series lead and instantly shaking up today’s NHL scores conversation. Leon Draisaitl needed just 1:17 to light the lamp—the fastest opening goal of any Stanley Cup Final game since 1990—setting an early tone that mirrored the Oilers’ high-octane regular-season offense. Florida countered with Aleksander Barkov’s power-play tally and a slick finish from Matthew Tkachuk, but Zach Hyman’s net-front tip knotted the score 3-3 late in the third period, forcing sudden death. In overtime, Connor McDavid threaded a cross-slot pass that Draisaitl buried for his second of the night, silencing Amerant Bank Arena and vaulting Edmonton ahead in the best-of-seven showdown. Key takeaways • Superstar showdown: McDavid recorded three assists, while Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 38 shots in a losing effort. Their head-to-head battle will headline every NHL scores update until the Cup is awarded. • Special-teams swing: Edmonton went 2-for-4 on the power play; Florida 1-for-3. The Oilers’ league-leading man-advantage unit continues to be a difference-maker. • Historic context: Edmonton holds a series lead in the Final for the first time since its last championship run in 1990, fueling Canadian hopes for the nation’s first Cup in over three decades. Updated Stanley Cup Final schedule (all times ET) Game 2: Saturday, June 7 — Panthers vs. Oilers, 8 p.m. Game 3: Monday, June 9 — Oilers vs. Panthers, 8 p.m. Game 4: Wednesday, June 11 — Oilers vs. Panthers, 8 p.m. *Games 5-7 if necessary: June 13, 16, 18.* Why this matters for fans tracking NHL scores Search interest in “NHL scores” spikes whenever overtime drama and superstar performances collide, and Game 1 delivered both. With every clock-watching refresh, fantasy managers, bettors, and casual fans are seeking quick answers: final score, goal scorers, and series status. Publishing timely recaps packed with keywords such as “Stanley Cup Final score,” “Oilers vs Panthers,” and “Game 1 overtime goal” positions your site to capture that surge. What to watch in Game 2 1. Panthers’ pushback: Expect coach Paul Maurice to deploy the Barkov line against McDavid more aggressively after failing to slow Edmonton’s captain in Game 1. 2. Goaltending duel: Stuart Skinner outperformed Bobrovsky in high-danger save percentage; repeating that edge could tilt the series decisively. 3. Discipline: Florida led the league in minor penalties this postseason; another parade to the box could let Edmonton’s lethal power play run away with momentum. SEO tip for evergreen traffic Beyond nightly NHL scores, embed context-rich sections—playoff bracket, historical Cup facts, roster storylines—that can rank for broader searches like “Stanley Cup Final history” or “Oilers playoff record.” Interlink those pieces to keep readers on-site after they’ve checked the score. Bottom line Edmonton’s OT victory injects instant intrigue into the 2025 Stanley Cup Final and sends “NHL scores” queries soaring. With McDavid and Draisaitl already flexing their offensive muscle, and Florida desperate for a Game 2 response, hockey’s biggest stage promises more viral, search-worthy moments in the nights ahead.