‘Spectacular’ Stanley Cup Final Game 1 shows this Panthers-Oilers rematch could be a classic series WSOC TV [Video]

EDMONTON, Alberta — (AP) — If the series opener of the Stanley Cup Final is a hint of things to come, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are about to give everyone a memorable show.

The two best teams in the NHL over the past couple of years traded hits, goals and saves through an instant-classic Game 1 that ended with Leon Draisaitl scoring 19-plus minutes into overtime.

It was at the same time tight-checking and also wildly entertaining. Even Panthers coach Paul Maurice on the losing end could appreciate the value of must-see hockey.

“Its potential (is) just a spectacular seven-gamer,” Maurice said “Up and down the ice, it’s still fast. There isn’t any casualness. … It was honest, it was hard, it was fast and it was tight. It was an overtime game.”

It had a little bit of everything, from Draisaitl scoring 66 seconds in to Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenging Florida’s tying goal by Sam Bennett …