Lead up to Stanley Cup Final Game Four for 12 June

June 12, 2025

The Oilers duo of Connor McDavid (1.83 P/GP) and Leon Draisaitl (1.50 P/GP) both average more than 1.50 points per game in playoff contests immediately following a loss, and will look to continue that production and even the series in Game 4.
* For the second straight year, the Panthers will have the opportunity to board a plane to Edmonton one win shy of hoisting the Stanley Cup. To get them there, a trio of players in Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Nate Schmidt will all aim to continue their momentum this series and be able to add themselves to notable Stanley Cup Final lists in the process.

* Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is now a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy after an announcement Wednesday, a feat only Erik Karlsson (3x) has accomplished among active defensemen. The winners of the final two awards, the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy, will be announced during the 2025 NHL Awards one-hour special tonight at 6 p.m. ET (TNT, truTV, MAX, Sportsnet).

McDAVID, DRAISAITL HAVE HISTORY OF BOUNCING BACK

Connor McDavid (6-25—31 in 19 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (10-19—29 in 19 GP), the top two producers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, have shown a history of bouncing back with big playoff performances following a loss throughout their career. The Oilers will look for the two to rebound once again and even the series 2-2.

* The duo have each appeared in 36 career playoff games following a defeat and own a 20-16 record in those contests (3-2 in 2025), while averaging more than 1.50 points per game: McDavid (20-46—66; 1.83 P/GP) and Draisaitl (21-33—54; 1.50 P/GP). The only other players in NHL history averaging over 1.50 points per game following a playoff loss (min. 20 GP) are Mario Lemieux (1.92) and Wayne Gretzky (1.68).

* The last time McDavid and Draisaitl entered Game 4 of a Stanley Cup Final following a loss, they were trailing a series 3-0 to the Panthers heading into Game 4 of the 2024 Final in Edmonton. In that contest, McDavid (1-3—4) and Draisaitl (0-2—2) each recorded multiple points in an 8-1 win to keep their season alive and start a comeback attempt that would push the championship series all the way to Game 7. The game was also memorable because McDavid set a new NHL record for most assists in a playoff year, breaking a record previously held by Gretzky.

STREAKS ON THE LINE AS PANTHERS TAKE AIM AT COMMANDING 3-1 SERIES LEAD

The Panthers will once again have the opportunity to take a commanding lead in the Final as they enter Game 4 on Thursday with the intention of leaving Amerant Bank Arena with a 3-1 series lead and on a three-game winning streak. Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Nate Schmidt have each played integral roles for the Panthers through the Final and can achieve notable feats should they carry that momentum into Game 4.

* Schmidt has almost doubled his point total through the first three series of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, having recorded five of his 12 playoff points in the Final. He can become the fourth defenseman in NHL history to open a Stanley Cup Final with an assist streak of four games – he would join Brad Stuart in 2007-08 (w/ DET), Stefan Persson in 1982 (w/ NYI) and Denis Potvin in 1982 (w/ NYI). Schmidt has never recorded a four-game assist streak in his career (regular season or playoffs).

* Bennett and Marchand both enter Game 4 with goals in each of the first three games to start the Final, with Bennett’s total run at four games spanning to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. They can become the fourth and fifth players in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. Mike Bossy (4 GP in 1982), Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981) and Johnny Bucyk (4 GP in 1970) are the only ones to do so to date.

* Bennett, who is currently leading the playoffs in goals (14), has already set a Panthers record for most goals in a playoff year and is two shy from becoming the second player in franchise history to score 30 in the postseason. Should he find the back of the net in Game 4, he can become the first player this postseason to record a five-game goal streak – three players did so last season: Valeri Nichushkin (7 GP), Vincent Trocheck (5 GP) and Artturi Lehkonen (5 GP).

AVALANCHE’S MAKAR WINS SECOND NORRIS TROPHY

Cale Makar is the 2024-25 recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Makar was golfing when he was surprised by friends and family, including his wife and parents, with the trophy.

* Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist for the fifth time in his first six NHL seasons, has captured the award for the second time (2021-22). He becomes just the second active defenseman with multiple Norris Trophy wins, joining Erik Karlsson (3).

2025 NHL AWARDS AIRS TONIGHT ON TNT, SPORTSNET

The NHL will celebrate best players, coaches and performances from the 2024-25 season with the 2025 NHL Awards, a one-hour special that will premiere before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final (6 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, MAX, Sportsnet). The show, hosted by actor Isaiah Mustafa, will recap the winners announced so far and will also reveal the Hart Memorial Trophy and Vezina Trophy winners for the first time.