"This is HOCKEY": Fan reactions go wild after Edmonton Oilers' historic OT Win to tie Stanley Cup Final 2–2

Game 4 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers wasn’t just a pivotal moment in the series—it was a rollercoaster of chaos, resilience, and pure, unscripted drama that left fans in stunned disbelief. From despair to exhilaration, fans are declaring it the best Stanley Cup Final in decades—and they may be correct. The Edmonton Oilers rallied from a 3–0 hole in the first period. They let a late 20-second regulation lead slip away. And then, in overtime, they won on a fluky centering pass from Leon Draisaitl that bounced off Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola—the kind of bounce that makes legends. But the tale isn't the comeback. It's the response to it. Fans let loose a torrent of raw, unfiltered emotion. One user simply posted, "This is HOCKEY." Another: "My heart can’t take this." Dozens of posts reflected a similar thought—if you weren't emotionally involved in the result, this could be the most fun Cup Final you've ever watched. "WHAT A GAME. This is going 7, no doubt," said one fan. Another revealed that their Apple Watch gave them 11 heart rate alerts during the game. One said, "This game was a movie what comeback." While another exclaimed, "As crazy as this will sound, that OT goal was for the Stanley Cup. Florida scores, and it would've crushed the Oilers after that comeback. The Oilers score, and they gotta believe it's their destiny this year! Sorry, I've had a couple of beers." The acclaim was not limited to the result—backup goalie Calvin Pickard, who came in for Stuart Skinner, was a hero. One fan penned, "I was ready to call it an early night on this by the end of the first. It would be insane for them not to start Pickard for Game 5." Another insisted he be the starter for the remainder of the series, adding, "Another crazy game, please keep Pickard in for the rest of the series, the Oilers just play better with him in net and Pickard is better than Skinner imo." Florida fans, on the other hand, were left dazed—and not without venom from the opposition. As one Oilers fan joked, "Massive choke job by the rats! You love to see it!" Others ridiculed Panthers fans for chanting "Skinner" with Pickard in goal, labeling them the "dumbest fans in the NHL." Even impartial fans were in the emotional crossfire: "Honestly, that is Oilers hockey. I never panic if it's an early three-goal deficit, and I'm always worried if they are up by 3 early. You can never relax your butt muscles. It's stressful, but we will both come away looking better for it when this series is over."Also read: Paul Maurice stays composed as Florida Panthers regroup after Game 4 collapse against Edmonton OilersAs the series is back in Edmonton for Game 5, it's now a best-of-three with home-ice on the Oilers' side.