By NetNewsLedger Sports Staff | June 11, 2025 – Stanley Cup Final Coverage
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Oilers aren’t licking wounds—they’re lacing up. Less than 24 hours after a humbling 6-1 loss in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers hit the ice instead of the snooze button, canceling their scheduled day off to regroup and reset ahead of a must-win Game 4.
It wasn’t the kind of bounce-back you’d see in a box score—but it was the kind that could define a season.
“This is how you move on,” said defenseman Darnell Nurse, speaking to reporters after the team’s 30-minute skate. “You wake up after a night like that, you flush the legs out, shake off the stink, and get right back at it.”
Game 4 on Deck – The Biggest One Yet
The Oilers trail the Florida Panthers 2-1 in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 4 Thursday night at Amerant Bank Arena. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. ET (MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC), and the Oilers know they need to flip the script after letting Game 3 spiral out of control.
Monday night was a meltdown—undisciplined penalties, missed assignments, and a scoreboard that tilted fast and furious in Florida’s favor. Edmonton racked up 85 penalty minutes to Florida’s 55 in a contest that turned into a third-period circus.
But the message Tuesday was clear: no excuses, no sulking—just recalibration.
Practice Makes Progress
Head coach Kris Knoblauch pivoted from the original off-day plan after Monday’s loss.
“We weren’t 100 percent locked in on taking the day off anyway,” Knoblauch said. “After reviewing everything, we felt it was better to get the guys moving, get on the ice, and mentally reset for Game 4.”
The practice session wasn’t a grueling bag skate—it was light, focused, and full of intent. According to Leon Draisaitl, it was exactly what they needed.
“Get the legs moving, clear the heads, and move on,” said Draisaitl. “That game wasn’t us. But this series isn’t over.”
Been Here Before
The Oilers know the feeling of postseason adversity all too well. In Round 1 against Los Angeles, they lost a wild opener 6-5 in the dying seconds—and bounced back to take four straight. In the second round, Draisaitl accidentally deflected a puck into his own net in Game 3 against Vegas—and the Oilers rebounded with two wins. In the Western Conference Final, they surrendered a two-goal third-period lead in Game 1 against Dallas, only to rattle off four straight and punch their ticket to the Final.
This is a group built for resilience.
“We’ve got the bounce-back gene,” said forward Corey Perry. “We’ve shown it. We lost the game, but we didn’t lose our identity. That’s what Thursday is about.”
Emotions High, Execution Higher
Panthers agitators got under Edmonton’s skin in Game 3, and the Oilers bit—hard. That’s something they’re looking to clean up heading into Game 4.
“We let them dictate the emotional tone,” admitted Mattias Ekholm. “Today was about getting the mental reset. We came off the ice feeling better. We know what we’re capable of.”
Edmonton is aiming to reclaim its structured, high-octane brand of hockey—the one that carried them through the Western Conference and back to a second straight Cup Final.
“This next one is the biggest one,” Nurse said. “We know what’s at stake.”
Final Word: Flush and Focus
With a travel day and a practice under their belts, the Oilers head into Game 4 with fresh legs and sharpened minds. The Stanley Cup is still two wins away for both teams—and Edmonton is determined to make the most of the bounce-back.
“You’ve got to flush the bad ones and focus on the next one,” Draisaitl said. “We’ve been doing that all season. Game 4 is our chance to remind everyone who we are.”
