The Edmonton Oilers pulled off a stunning 5-4 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, tying the series 2-2. While the comeback was one for the ages, masking deeper, persistent issues could spell trouble for the Oilers as the series progresses.

Edmonton's Game 4 win marked only the seventh time in Stanley Cup Final history that a team has overcome a three-goal deficit to win. The last time this happened was in 2006, when the Carolina Hurricanes did it against the Edmonton Oilers. After being dominated in Game 3 and falling behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 4, the Oilers looked to be on the brink of collapse. However, a motivational speech by veteran Corey Perry during the first intermission and a subsequent goaltending change sparked a remarkable turnaround.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ignited the comeback early in the second period, followed by goals from Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin, leveling the score. Jake Walman then put the Oilers ahead in the third, but Sam Reinhart's late goal for Florida forced overtime. In overtime, Leon Draisaitl sealed the win for Edmonton, deflecting the puck off a Panthers player and into the net. Draisaitl's goal marked his fourth overtime goal of the postseason, an NHL record.

Despite the euphoria of the comeback, the Oilers' underlying problems remain a significant concern. One of the most glaring issues is their penalty trouble. Throughout the series, Edmonton has struggled to stay disciplined, handing Florida numerous power-play opportunities. Through four games, the Oilers have surrendered seven power-play goals on 21 opportunities, a penalty-kill efficiency of just 66.7%. This lack of discipline and inability to kill penalties effectively could be disastrous against a potent offensive team like the Panthers.

Poor starts have also plagued the Oilers. In multiple games, they've come out flat, allowing the Panthers to seize early leads and dictate the game's tempo. This was evident in Game 4, where Florida jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period, capitalizing on Edmonton's early struggles. While the Oilers managed to overcome this deficit, relying on comebacks is not a sustainable strategy for long-term success.

Goaltending has also been inconsistent for the Oilers. While Calvin Pickard provided a spark after replacing Stuart Skinner in Game 4, the team's overall goaltending performance throughout the series has been shaky. The Oilers need consistent, reliable goaltending if they hope to contain Florida's offensive threats and win the Stanley Cup.

While the Oilers showed resilience and determination in Game 4, they cannot afford to continue making the same mistakes. They must address their penalty issues, improve their starts, and find consistency in net if they hope to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1990. As the series shifts back to Edmonton for Game 5, the Oilers must build on their Game 4 victory, learn from their mistakes, and play a more disciplined, complete game if they want to take control of the series and move closer to lifting the Cup.