Stanley Cup live updates: Oilers win Game 1 in OT

It’s opening night for this year’s Stanley Cup final, a rematch of last year’s thrilling seven-game series that saw the Florida Panthers edge the Edmonton Oilers to win hockey’s grail.

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This year, the National Hockey League squads meet again, the first time fans have witnessed a Stanley Cup rematch since 2009, when the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings a year after the Winged Wheelers (Detroit) beat the Igloo dwellers (’The Igloo’ being the nickname of the Pens’ home arena at the time.)

Follow along with me right here to stay up to date with live updates on the goings-on in and around Rogers Place during Game 1.

9:46 p.m.: Draisaitl scores to win it for Oilers

Leon Draisaitl scores on the power play on a pass from, who else?, Connor McDavid with 31 seconds left in overtime to win Game 1 over the Panthers 4-3. It’s Draisaitl’s second goal of the game.

9:27 p.m.: Oilers buzzing mid-period

After the Panthers came out of their dressing room energized and controlled play early in overtime, the Oilers grabbed momentum back a few minutes later and had some opportunities. At 7:05, Oilers winger Kasperi Kapanen splits the Panthers defence for a quick breakaway chance but is foiled by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Two minutes later, Oilers winger Trent Frederic gets a point-blank chance on Bobrovsky blocker side but can’t convert it.

8:53 p.m.: Going to overtime

Game 1 is heading to extra time tied 3-3.

Give the third period to the Oilers, of course, who scored the frame’s only goal and won handily on the shot clock 14-2. Shots through three periods are 36-26 in favour of Edmonton.

8:25 p.m.: Ekholm ties game

In what looked to be either a Hail Mary or a soothsaying seeing-eye feed by Connor McDavid from behind the net, Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm scores his first goal of the playoffs to tie the game 3-3. Ekholm glided in from the point as McDavid threaded the puck into a sea of bodies in front of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, finding Ekholm, who potted it past Bobrovsky glove side.

8:09 p.m.: 2nd intermission thoughts

• The Panthers won another period, this time with their smothering neutral and defensive zone forechecks on full display. The Oilers, who outshot the Panthers 14-7 in the first, were held to just three shots until late in the second when they went on the power play and notched five more for eight, while the visitors recorded 17 of their own.
• While three goals have gotten past him so far, Stuart Skinner is keeping the Oilers in the game, stopping 16 of those 17, with the lone goal coming off a clean look for Bennett.

7:28 p.m.: Arvidsson slapper beats Goalie Bob

Viktor Arvidsson’s slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle to Sergei Bobrovsky’s right beats the Panthers goalie trapper side to bring the score to 3-2 3:17 into the second period. Arvidsson’s goal, his second of the playoffs, comes off a drop pass from fellow winger Vasily Podkolzin.

7:26 p.m.: Bennett scores his 2nd of game

Sam Bennett, essentially untouched on his way to the net, scores his second goal of the game on a cross-ice feed from Nate Schmidt to put the Panthers ahead 3-1 two minutes into the second period.

7:24 p.m.: 1st intermission thoughts

• I know the Oilers didn’t score on the 4-on-3 during their power play, but McDavid & Co. sure looked dangerous. The chances were there.
• And that’s the thing, chances. the Panthers capitalized on theirs, particularly on their second goal on the PP by Brad Marchand. He was missed at the side of the net for the tap in.

6:53 p.m.: Oilers blanked on power play

With the Oilers’ Corey Perry and the Panthers’ Anton Lundell already in the box a few seconds before, Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad takes a holding call 13:04 into the first period, putting Edmonton on the power play. They fail to convert.

6:45 p.m.: Marchand scores on PP

Brad Marchand puts the Panthers up 2-1 on the power play 12:30 into the first following the Oilers’ failed coach’s challenge on the previous goal by Sam Bennett.

6:42 p.m.: Panthers score, coach’s challenge fails

Sam Bennett tips a Carter Verhaeghe shot past Stuart Skinner 10:49 into the period to tie it at 1-1. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch challenges the goal, claiming goalie interference by Bennett but loses. The Oilers take a penalty, served by Corey Perry.

6:38 p.m.: Oilers kill Perry penalty

With Corey Perry in the penalty box for two minutes on an interference call, the Oilers hold the Panthers’ power play at bay. The PK is punctuated by a steal by Connor McDavid near his own blueline, setting up a two-on-one with Kasperi Kapanen. McDavid’s pass attempt to Kapanen is blocked by the Panthers defender, only for McDavid to recover the puck and narrowly miss on his own shot.

6:30 p.m.: Kane hit on Ekblad

Oilers forward Evander Kane lands a solid bodycheck behind the Panthers goal on Florida defenceman Aaron Ekblad, who’d just missed taking out Leon Draisaitl with one of his own.

6:24 p.m.: Draisaitl scores

Just 1:06 into the game, the Oilers draw first blood in the Stanley Cup final, with Leon Draisaitl snapping in a rebound past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to open the scoring. Kasperi Kapanen and Jake Walman get the assists.

6:17 p.m.: Top line, ‘D’ pairing to start

Oilers captain Connor McDavid will take the opening face-off alongside forward linemates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Corey Perry, with defencemen Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm on the blueline, and Stuart Skinner in goal.

6:04 p.m.: Referees, linesmen

Referees Wes McCauley and Francis Charron will officiate Game 1 alongside linesmen Scott Cherrey and Trent Knorr.

5:46 p.m.: Brown to play in Game 1

Forward Connor Brown, who didn’t take part in Tuesday’s practice, is in the Oilers’ lineup for the Stanley Cup opening game. Coming out of the lineup is Jeff Skinner, who scored a goal in the team’s previous game.

5:39 p.m.: Teams warm up

Oilers and Panthers players take the ice for warm up about a half hour before Game 1 starts.

5:17 p.m.: Lineup for Moss Pit

The lineup for the ‘Moss Pit’ – the outdoor watch party held in the Ice District plaza outside Rogers Place – stretches from the north entrance on 104 Avenue a block east to the intersection at 102 Street, 17 minutes after the gates opened at 5 p.m., a little more than an hour before before puck drop on Game 1. A security guard at the gate said he expects it will be full.

4:10 p.m.: What we know heading in

• Zach Hyman gave media an update on his dislocated wrist after the Oilers’ morning skate, saying he was initially hoping he could play through the injury but quickly realized he wouldn’t be able to and that his season is essentially over: “I think I was still delusional, I could play through it until after the surgery … emotional in the moment. I don’t think I fully grasped it until later, then you kind of get your head around it. Some things in life you can’t control, and this is one of them.”
• Oilers players on Tuesday during the so-called NHL Media Day ahead of the Cup final, when all players on both teams speak at length to reporters, said they’re feeling calm heading into Game 1, perhaps a product of having gone through the process last year. “We’re more patient and more trusting in our game,” said centre Leon Draisaitl, this season’s leading NHL goal-scorer with 52 and, in the playoffs, second on the NHL points list with 25, one behind fellow superstar and teammate Connor McDavid. “We seem to have an understanding of when to pounce and when to do the right moves and make the right plays.”
• Prime Minister Mark Carney, who grew up in Edmonton and is an admitted Oilers fan, may be in attendance at Rogers Place for Game 1. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday she has invited the recently elected federal leader to attend the game with her.