Leon Draisaitl discloses the essence of Corey Perry's warcry after Oilers' dismal 1st period in dramatic Game 4 win over Panthers

The majority of Edmonton Oilers players know what it means to come agonizingly close to losing a Stanley Cup Final, but none more so than Corey Perry who has lost four in the last five years. So when the Oilers were down 3-0 in the first period in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, he knew he couldn't let it get away.

The Panthers started Game 4 in the same fashion as the previous one when they blew away their opponents in a 6-1 drubbing. They outshot the Oilers 17-7 and scored thrice against Stuart Skinner. However, the Oilers after the first intermission looked like a changed team.

With Calvin Pickard now in goal, the Oilers scored through Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin in the second period to tie the game. Their rejuvenance was credited to a special Corey Perry-led pep talk that lifted their shoulders.

Leon Draisaitl opened up about the importance of the talk they received from the 40-year-old veteran after the game.

"I'm not going to share exactly what he said, but the message is that he’s been in these moments," Draisaitl said. (5:13 onwards) "He’s not a guy that speaks up or yells at guys all the time — that's not his character — so when a guy like that, with that many games, that much experience, he’s won everything there is to win, he knows how to win. When he speaks up, you listen, and it grabs your attention. So, he’s a heck of a leader."

The Oilers went ahead through Jake Walman in the third period but conceded in the last twenty seconds of the game against Sam Reinhart. It was Draisaitl, who had given a pep talk himself at the end of Game 3, who scored the overtime winner as Edmonton became the 7th team and the first since 2006 to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a Stanley Cup Final game.

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Kris Knoblauch makes feelings known about Corey Perry's leadership

Even head coach Kris Knoblauch highlighted Corey Perry's importance in the Oilers lineup. He acknowledged the forward's thoughts and stated how everyone in the team takes him seriously because of the immense respect they have for him.

"I think all the guys pick their moments of talking," Knoblauch said. (7:28 onwards) "We don’t have a guy that is always the guy stepping up and talking, and everyone takes their turns — whether it’s Leon or — or obviously Corey Perry. He carries a lot of weight with all the experience he has and his age. A lot of guys — everyone — has a lot of respect for him."

The teams will now head back to Edmonton with the series tied at 2-2. With three of the games having gone to overtime, the best of three contests are expected to serve up similar classics.