The Edmonton Oilers have two things they didn't have in last year's Stanley Cup Final: home-ice advantage and a lead in the series.
The Oilers' 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 means the Florida Panthers will need to come back if they're going to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Game 2 is Friday night.
"We learn more from adversity than we do from winning," Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe told reporters on Thursday.
The Panthers blew a second intermission lead for the first time in the playoffs in three years under coach Paul Maurice. They were outshot 14-2 in the third period as Edmonton tied the game and won in overtime on Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal.
"They dictated more of the game than we did," forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "It is what it is. Back to the drawing board. Just try to play better than them (Friday)."
