Just like in Game 3, the Florida Panthers entered Game 4 with the early momentum with their fans’ 130.9 db Guiness world record sending electricity through them. However, despite a 3-0 lead in the first period, Oilers did what they do best– make a comeback. After a goalie change and some power play moves, they snapped that lead long before the second period ended. Then, in the closing seconds of the third period, Jake Walman gave Edmonton its first lead of the game. Even Sportsnet’s Mark Spector wrote how, “Oilers follow their worst period of this Final with their best one.” But just when it looked like Game 4 was in the Oilers’ bag, came Sam Reinhart.

In the series that has already become an instant classic, Reinhart became a shining hero of the clutch moment in Game 4. With 20 seconds on the clock, the Panthers forward positioned himself parallel to the post after picking the puck from Sam Bennett. He gave it a nudge to captain, Matthew Tkachuk, who sent it back to the North Vancouver born once his defenders were off of him.

Showing no hesitation, an unbalanced Reinhart pushed the puck into the net, beating an out-of-position Calvin Pickard at a near 180-degree angle and tying the game. While the familiar face in Leon Draisaitl ended the high with his overtime one-handed goal, giving Edmonton a 5-4 lead for good and ending the night at 2-2 apiece in the Finals, Reinhart did shock the hockey world, including The Great One, Wayne Gretzky.

“Sam Reinhart might be one of the smartest players to ever play our game,” Wayne Gretzky said about the Cats’ center on TNT, as per ESPN’s senior NHL writer Greg Wyshynski. Now that’s high praise from arguably the greatest hockey player ever to grace the ice. However, it’s easy to see why Gretzky gave such a stunning compliment when you look closer at what went down.

The NHL star played it cool despite mere seconds on the clock, with five Edmonton Oilers players, including goalie Calvin Pickard, trying to block the shot. “Bennet with the pass, and it’s Reinhart who defers instead of shooting,” said the announcer as the former Buffalo Sabres star became the playmaker. In fact, passing the puck to Tkachuk instead of shooting created the space he needed.

While Pickard charged Tkachuk, the alternate captain managed to do just enough to give it back to Sam Reinhart. And in a split second, with five Oilers players bearing down on him, the Cats’ center scored his 5th NHL 2024-25 postseason goal. Yet, the Florida Panthers’ star was more concerned about the defeat as he later stated, “Like I just said at the start, just a little bit too passive — watching the play develop a little bit too much.” However, he is now looking forward to bouncing back.

“A lot of the success in postseason is how you handle your losses. They’re going to happen, especially when you get down to the last two teams. You got to two of the best teams going at it. So you got to expect to lose at some point. There’s a lot we can learn from and come back stronger in Game 5.”

Of course, his incredible goal was overshadowed by none other than Leon Draisaitl in the historic collapse.

Sam Reinhart’s heroics were not enough

While the Panthers’ star’s goal with 19.5 seconds left on the clock forced the game into overtime, the momentum remained with the Oilers. And you’d think that changed the game because Matthew Tkachuk and Co. have already revealed just how relaxed they stay under pressure after Game 3.

“Guys were ‘hooting and hollering’ and predicting who’d score the game-winning goal… A lot of guys had Marchy,” revealed Sam Reinhart’s teammate. Unfortunately, their confident mindset didn’t make a difference this time as the Oilers showed just how determined they were as Leon Draisaitl once again emerged as the OT hero for the Oilers.

Even more impressive was how he scored the goal. “This is about a six-second shift that ends up in probably the biggest goal. He’s had so many, but probably the biggest goal of his Oilers’ career,” said the announcer. Draisaitl jumped off the bench, onto the ice, and scored the winning goal, and the best part was that the forward wasn’t even trying to score.

Instead, Draisaitl was trying to pass the puck to Corey Perry, but it deflected into the net. “His fourth overtime goal of this playoff, which is a Stanley Cup Playoff record,” said the announcer about the historic goal. So it’s safe to say that while Sam Reinhart gave the Panthers some hope, the game belonged to the Oilers from the second period.