When someone reveals their true colors, it’s wise to take note—and the Florida Panthers are learning this lesson the hard way.

Wednesday night in a roaring Rogers Place, measuring 110 decibels, the Edmonton Oilers demonstrated they are not the same team the Panthers bested last year. The Oilers have transformed—now bigger, stronger, and more formidable than ever. Their confidence was palpable as the playoff puck dropped in Game 1.

Proving their mettle, the Oilers battled back from a daunting 3-1 deficit to snatch victory in overtime with Leon Draisaitl’s clutch goal at 19:29. This win sent a clear message: this Oilers squad is here to compete and they aren’t backing down.

"We’ve done it all postseason," Draisaitl remarked about their comeback. "We stick with it and we’re never going to quit. It was a closely contested game, but we got it done when it mattered most." The triumph marks the first time an Oilers team leads in the Stanley Cup Final since 1990, a stark contrast to their previous falters.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner expressed the significance of this lead, noting, "If we had stolen a game last year, it could have been a different story. We showed up right from the start and proved our character, even when trailing by two."

The Panthers, appearing in their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, aimed to stake their claim in hockey history. However, the Oilers had other plans.

From the jump, the Oilers showed their intent: Draisaitl lit the lamp just 66 seconds into the game, setting the tone. But despite dominating the first period with a 14-7 edge in shots, the Oilers found themselves down 2-1 thanks to two controversial goals from the Panthers.

The first was a disputed goal by Carter Verhaeghe, where interference on Skinner was overlooked due to a trip by defenseman Brett Kulak. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch certainly felt the sting of the call, stating, "I’d challenge that any day. I was confident in that decision."

After trading early goals in the second, the Panthers took a 3-2 lead. As the game progressed, Skinner turned into a wall, denying shot after shot and keeping the Oilers in the hunt.

As the final period approached, the Oilers, with a 4-3 playoff record when trailing, struck back decisively with Mattias Ekholm's goal, tying the game. Everything came down to a single shot.

Draisaitl seized the moment, netting his third overtime winner this postseason, putting the Oilers up 1-0 in the series.

"I know these guys have it in them to come back like that," Skinner praised his team. "Seeing it happen in that critical moment, I have faith I’ll see it again!"