Before we move further, maybe some basic rules can be established for how to evaluate a particular Stanley Cup final.

Specifically, unless the Edmonton Oilers or the Florida Panthers get such a huge lead, everything can be decided in the last 10 minutes of regulation or whenever you win the goal of overtime (or even overtime) score.

OK Now, we're all on the same page, here's how the Oilers got their first game with a 4-3 overtime victory and what it means to both sides' advancement before Game 2.

It is crucial to win the third stage in the Oilers’ way. Not only because it led to overtime, but also because it was arguably the most consistent framework they had in Game 1.

They shot in the first phase but were still behind. They worked hard to acquire property and generate shots in the second time, which played a role in why they were knocked out by the target. In the early stages of the third, a goal was scored from Mattias Ekholm, which gave the Oilers a 20th-place different scorer in the playoffs. They also beat the Panthers 14-2 while having a 58.3% shooting share, giving them a sense of control they lacked in the beginning.

Although they started working overtime, their ability to put pressure in the last 15 minutes continued, with Leon Draisaitl scoring in the game with 1:06 remaining.

They survived the Kasperi Kapanen Mini-Breakaway. They survived Trent Frederic in the fight against the circle. When the Oilers had a 5-to-5 sequence, they survived. They survived the chance to score Evan Bouchard, who glided behind the defensive innings and gained another chance of insight from Sergei Bobrovsky's stop.

Even Destiny's kids, for those familiar, Black Panthers survive too much.

Finally, they were unable to survive the late overtime power play, during which Draisaitl scored the goal that caused the Panthers to fall into the first game.

Every game comes with a turning point - especially if the team loses. The Panthers have a few. Is this the second stage? They had 65.2% of the shooting share when they hit 17 shots - just a goal due to Stuart Skinner's steady game in the net? Is it the third stage to see that they only scored two shots? Or are they unable to make the most of their dominant start in overtime?

ArdaÖcal's 3-star 1st star

Draisaitl did not score a single goal in the 2024 Cup final. He entered Game 1 for 66 seconds before winning the overtime title. This year's championship series began with sublime. Draisaitl scored or assisted in six OT goals for the Oilers over the past two playoffs.

The experienced defender hit his first goal in Game 2 with an injury. He became the 20th oilman to score in these playoffs, second in a single playoff in NHL history (the 1987 Flyer and the 2019 Blues had 21 different goalscorers).

Two-target efforts made in the cause of failure. Bennett now has 12 goals in the playoffs, the most in the team's history. 11 of those goals have been on the road, tied with Mark Scheifele (2018) most of the road goals in a single playoff in NHL history.

Players watching in Game 2

Remember: This man was abandoned in November. The Oiler’s claim to him was initially seen as an opportunity to increase the depth of cheapness, just to make it something bigger. His winning goal in the Series 5 matches opened up more game time in the Western Conference Finals. He also almost did it again in his first game of overtime, but he did get help in winning goals.

He has been the performance of the Oilers without Zach Hyman, who was injured in the Western Conference Finals, which will keep him the rest of the playoffs. Kapanen went all out with three assists, while his five hits kept the oilers on the edge of their body as part of their identity to reach a continuous cup final.

There are two ways to look at what Bennett did in the first game. The first was his two-point effort that reinforced him once again to become a serious candidate for the playoffs MVP to win the Conn Smythe trophy. Bennett has already made the rankings before the game as he hits a playoff-high 10 goals. Now collect twice, his 18 points tied for fourth with Ryan Nugent Hopkins, the Oilers Center.

The second is that he will get Remunerated Offseason. Earlier in the day, the Colorado avalanche re-signed Brock Nelson with a three-year contract worth $7.5 million a year to avoid him entering the open market. What Bennett did help the Panthers three consecutive Stanley Cup finals (and able to win a second title) would only add to his July 1 command.

Big Problems with Game 2

Did the third stage and overtime provide the Oilers with a defensive roadmap for the Panthers?

The Oilers’ path back to the Stanley Cup final is based on how their defensive structure makes life difficult for the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Cavaliers, both teams in the top five goals per game in the regular season and struggling in the playoffs.

The Oilers faced some challenges in the first phase, with Skinner partially blocking the first two goals before beating in the second phase, leaving the goalkeeper on an island.

From there, the Oilers gave up eight shots in the final frame, with the biggest focusing on the first five minutes of overtime.

Of course, the Panthers found breakthroughs for teams targeting the defensive structure, such as the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals. Will the Panthers find another in the second game? Or will the Oilers find something that can see more successful in their defensive identities?

What are the main points of the future: their beginning or end?

This is where it gets complicated - it can be traced back to earlier statements about the inflection point of the team. In the second phase, the Panthers were aggressive in a way that few people opposed the Oilers. This leads to five highs of scoring opportunities, as well as an overall sense of control.

This is what makes a goal stand out, especially in a goal match, which can raise questions about how they can make the most of these opportunities.

But, at the same time, the idea that they were forced to survive in overtime separated them from the Oilers by shooting share, higher chances of scoring, but failed to provide a consistent threat?

This could also make the Panthers think more about it in the coming days… Maybe they won’t question the process, as the Panthers won the last 31 playoff games where they gained a second-stage lead.