There’s no higher ending in all sports activities than sudden-death extra time and the Stanley Cup Playoffs all the time present the perfect, most dramatic endings with some iconic memorable objectives. Nevertheless, a collection ending with an overtime-winning purpose is uncommon and after they happen, the moments are particular, to say the least. How uncommon are Sport 7 extra time winners? Properly traditionally, they’re frequent within the Stanley Cup Playoffs however have solely occurred a number of occasions within the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
The First Sport 7 Additional time Sport-Winner
Earlier than the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 1939, the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers performed in a neck-and-neck Semifinal Collection. The collection was so tight that 4 video games required extra time and 5 video games have been determined by one purpose. Moreover, Sport 7 required three extra time intervals to determine which workforce would advance to the Stanley Cup Ultimate. The purpose scorer of the game-winner was an unlikely hero however one which stepped up within the clutch and helped the Bruins not solely win the collection however the Stanley Cup as nicely.
Associated: Little-Identified Information Concerning the Stanley Cup
Mel Hill scored 10 objectives within the 1938-39 season with the Bruins, ninth most on the workforce. Nevertheless, he was taking part in at one other degree within the playoffs, scoring six objectives which together with future Corridor of Famer Roy Conacher was probably the most on the workforce. Hill curiously had a knack for locating the again of the web in extra time within the playoffs. His three profession overtime-winning objectives are tied with Brad Marchand for the second-most in Bruins’ franchise historical past (Patrice Bergeron has probably the most with 4 playoff extra time objectives).
Within the third extra time of the ultimate sport of the Semifinal collection, Hill discovered the again of the web to stroll off the collection and ship the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, the place they’d go on to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in a five-game collection. The purpose was the primary massive second in a good nine-year profession however in his second 12 months within the NHL, he was the shock participant that ended Sport 7 together with his extra time purpose. The surprising participant stepping up and scoring in massive moments would turn into a theme all through playoff historical past and Sport 7 game-winning purpose historical past.
The Stanley Cup Sport 7 Sport-Winners
The NHL has performed the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Ultimate codecs since 1939 as a part of the unbelievable 125-year historical past of probably the most well-known trophy in sports activities. Nevertheless, regardless of the a number of matchups, there have solely been 17 Sport 7’s, and solely two of them have ended with a sudden-death overtime-winning purpose.
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The primary Sport 7 game-winner was within the 1950 Stanley Cup Ultimate. The Detroit Purple Wings, who curiously sufficient superior to the Ultimate by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a seven-game collection with a 1-0 extra time win, confronted the Rangers in a back-and-forth collection. In Sport 7, with Sid Abel scoring his fifth purpose of the collection to steer all skaters, the rating was tied 3-3 and the 2 groups went to double extra time earlier than the game-winner was scored by probably the most surprising participant on the Purple Wings.
Purple Wings ahead Pete Babando solely scored six objectives and 6 assists in his one season with the workforce, and his 12 common season factors have been fifteenth on the roster. He was a depth participant however with each groups exhausted in extra time, he stepped up and fired a shot previous Rangers goaltender Chuck Rayner for his second purpose of the sport however extra importantly, the purpose that ended the sport and the collection. Babando scored probably the most important purpose of the Purple Wings’ season because it allowed them to elevate the Cup however it will be his closing massive second with the workforce. Within the 1950 offseason, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks the place he’d spend his subsequent two and a half seasons earlier than retiring with the Rangers in 1953.
The 1950 Stanley Cup Ultimate was the primary to finish with a sudden-death extra time winner and it helped launch a Purple Wings dynasty that gained 4 titles in six years. The subsequent Sport 7 game-winner would come from that Purple Wings dynasty as nicely solely 4 years later.
The Purple Wings confronted the Montreal Canadiens in 1954 in a collection that went the space to pressure a Sport 7 at Olympia Stadium. In a 1-1 defensive battle, Purple Wings ahead Tony Leswick fired a shot on the blue line previous Canadiens goaltender Gerry McNeil to attain his solely purpose of the collection however notably break the tie and win the Stanley Cup. In contrast to Babando, who got here out of nowhere to attain the sudden demise Sport 7 purpose in 1950, Leswick’s purpose capped off a memorable 12-year profession within the NHL. At 30 years previous, he established himself as a two-way ahead and a dependable contributor on a star-studded workforce that had Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and 6 different Corridor of Famers on it. His purpose put a bow on a powerful profession and put him in a singular place in NHL historical past as he grew to become the second participant to attain a Sport 7 sudden-death extra time purpose.
Since 1954, the Stanley Cup Ultimate hasn’t been determined by a sudden-death extra time purpose, regardless of a number of Sport 7s and lots of memorable moments. Whereas Bobby Orr’s flying purpose, arguably probably the most well-known purpose in NHL historical past was scored in extra time, the purpose was scored in Sport 4, permitting the Boston Bruins to finish the sweep to win the Cup. In 1994, the Rangers snapped their 53-year title drought with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks the place they held the one-goal lead all through the third and closing interval of play. Likewise, in 2004, the Lightning held on to a 2-1 lead over the Flames to cliche their first title in franchise historical past. Even within the 2009 Stanley Cup Ultimate, the place the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Purple Wings 2-1 regardless of taking part in the third interval with out Sidney Crosby, the game-winning purpose was scored within the second interval by Maxime Talbot.
There’s no higher ending than a sudden-death game-winning purpose however since 1954, the Stanley Cup Ultimate hasn’t been determined with the very best ending. Whereas it has turn into a rarity for the Ultimate, there have been a number of Sport 7 sudden-death extra time objectives within the Stanley Cup Semifinals which have offered followers with some memorable objectives even lately.
Semifinal Sport 7 OT Winners
Following the 1954 sudden-death game-winner, hockey followers needed to wait 14 years till the subsequent collection to be determined in sudden-death extra time. Curiously, the purpose got here within the first 12 months of NHL growth which noticed the league go from six groups to 12, creating extra playoff rounds because of this. Within the 1968 West Division Ultimate, the St. Louis Blues beat the Minnesota North Stars 2-1 in double extra time behind ahead Ron Schock’s first and solely purpose of the collection. Whereas the win was dramatic, it didn’t assist the Blues win the Stanley Cup, as they have been simply swept by the Canadiens, beginning a streak of three consecutive losses within the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
The late Nineteen Seventies Canadiens are sometimes called top-of-the-line groups in NHL historical past, profitable the Stanley Cup 4 years in a row led by Corridor of Fame gamers Man Lafleur, Serge Savard, and Ken Dryden. In 1979, they wanted all seven video games to defeat the rival Bruins within the Semifinal collection that includes a Sport 7 that had 4 third-period objectives to tie the sport 4-4. In extra time, Yvon Lambert discovered the puck in entrance of the web to ship the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Ultimate in entrance of an ecstatic crowd on the Montreal Discussion board. The sport-winner from Lambert allowed the workforce to defeat the Rangers in 5 video games to cap off the dynasty.
Many followers find out about Mark Messier’s well-known assure within the 1994 Japanese Convention Ultimate that the Rangers would win Sport 6 to pressure a Sport 7 towards the rival New Jersey Devils. Nevertheless, Sport 7 was determined by a uncommon sudden-death extra time winner. In a 1-1 goaltending duel, the place Martin Brodeur and Mike Richter mixed to make 76 saves, Rangers ahead Stephane Matteau skated behind the web and wrapped within the game-winning purpose in double extra time.
The 2014 Western Convention Ultimate noticed the 2 groups of the last decade face off with the fitting to return to the Ultimate. The Blackhawks hosted the Los Angeles Kings in a seventh sport that noticed each offenses erupt, scoring 4 objectives every in regulation. Six minutes into the extra time interval, defenseman Alec Martinez flipped the puck on the web from the purpose and it zipped by goaltender Corey Crawford to finish the collection. The Kings would win the Stanley Cup in a five-game collection with Martinez being the hero within the closing sport as nicely, scoring the extra time winner to present the workforce their second title in three years. The loss stung for the Blackhawks however they gained the Cup the subsequent 12 months to wrap up a contemporary dynasty, profitable three titles in six years.
The subsequent and most up-to-date Semifinal collection to finish with a sudden-death extra time purpose was the Japanese Convention Ultimate in 2017. In a 2-2 Sport 7 that went to double extra time between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators, Chris Kunitz took a fast Crosby move and despatched the puck to the highest shelf to finish the sport and collection. The Kunitz purpose allowed the Penguins to achieve their second consecutive Stanley Cup Ultimate the place they ended up defeating the Nashville Predators in six video games.
New Century = Extra Stroll-Off Targets
By the point the 2000-01 NHL season began, the league had expanded to 30 groups. With the growth got here longer seasons, longer playoffs, and extra video games that might require extra time. For the reason that 2001 Playoffs, there have been 22 Sport 7 overtime-winning objectives, most of which have come within the First or Second Spherical.
Within the 2000-01 Japanese Convention Semifinal, the Penguins confronted the Buffalo Sabres in a collection the place each Sport 5 and Sport 6 have been determined in extra time. Sport 7 was no exception with each groups locked in a 2-2 tie. The sport was determined by top-of-the-line defensemen on the Penguins however not a purpose scorer within the slightest. Darius Kasparaitis scored three objectives in 77 video games that season and in his profession, he solely scored two objectives within the playoffs. Nevertheless, one in every of them was the extra time winner as he stepped up on the push and shot the puck previous Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek. Kasparaitis despatched the workforce to the Japanese Convention Ultimate however they ran right into a wall within the New Jersey Devils, who beat them in a brief five-game collection.
The Penguins couldn’t defeat the workforce of the early 2000s however Andrew Brunette’s overtime-winning purpose in Sport 7 of the 2003 Quarterfinal allowed the Minnesota Wild to defeat the Avalanche, the opposite workforce of the early decade. The Avalanche gained the Stanley Cup in 2001 and had the roster to win one other a number of years later. Nevertheless, in Sport 7 on their house ice, they have been shocked by the Wild, a workforce that had solely been in existence for 3 years. Brunette discovered a breakaway scoring likelihood and slipped the puck round Corridor of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy for a shocking extra time purpose. The purpose helped carry the workforce to the Western Convention Ultimate however sadly, they ran out of gasoline, getting swept by the Anaheim Geese.
One 12 months later, the Calgary Flames scored a Sport 7 purpose that might propel them to one in every of their nice Cup runs in franchise historical past. Going through the Vancouver Canucks within the Quarterfinals, a 2-2 sport went to extra time and on the ability play, Martin Gelinas collected a unfastened puck close to the web to finish the collection. Gelinas was an unsung hero of that workforce, scoring 17 objectives within the season and eight objectives within the playoffs as a veteran presence on the left wing. The purpose allowed the Flames to advance to the subsequent spherical and so they’d finally attain the Stanley Cup Ultimate the place they’d lose to the Lightning in a hard-fought seven-game collection.
The subsequent such purpose would come 4 years later within the 2008 Quarterfinal collection between the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers. In a sport that featured Alexander Ovechkin, Daniel Briere, and loads of star energy, it was journeyman Joffrey Lupul, who would play on 4 groups in 12 years, who scored the game-winner. A shot from the purpose offered a juicy rebound and Lupul put the puck into the web to advance to the subsequent spherical. The purpose helped the Flyers attain the subsequent spherical and subsequently, the Japanese Convention Ultimate however they bumped right into a well-oiled machine within the Penguins, who defeated them in a five-game collection.
The Hurricanes confronted an analogous predicament to the Flyers the subsequent 12 months. Within the Japanese Convention Semifinals, they confronted the Boston Bruins and on the street, Scott Walker scored in extra time his first playoff purpose to finish the collection in seven video games. The Hurricanes upset the Bruins however within the Japanese Convention Ultimate, they confronted a Penguins workforce that was on a mission to win the Stanley Cup after a devastating defeat the 12 months earlier than. The Penguins gained the collection in a sweep after which defeated the Purple Wings within the Ultimate in a dramatic seven-game collection.
The Canucks 2011 playoff run resulted in heartbreaking vogue however was one to recollect because it featured a dominant workforce and a number of dramatic video games. Probably the most intense sport got here within the Quarterfinals as they hosted the defending champion Blackhawks for Sport 7 in a 1-1 goaltending duel between Roberto Luongo and Blackhawks goaltender Crawford. Alexandre Burrows scored the one purpose in regulation for the Canucks however his spotlight purpose got here in extra time. He stole the puck within the offensive zone and with a slapshot, discovered the again of the web to finish the collection and ship the Rogers Area Crowd right into a frenzy.
The subsequent night time, the workforce that might beat the Canucks within the Stanley Cup Ultimate scored their very own Sport 7 game-winning purpose. The Bruins went forwards and backwards with the Montreal Canadiens in a 3-3 sport earlier than Nathan Horton scored the series-clincher. Horton scored 26 objectives that 12 months, second-most on the workforce however his most vital purpose got here within the Quarterfinal collection towards the Canadiens with a slapshot from the purpose that fueled the workforce’s playoff run. The Bruins would go on to win the Stanley Cup in a seven-game collection towards the Canucks, profitable their first title since 1972.
The Bruins hope for a repeat of squashed in the identical spherical Horton scored his extra time purpose. Within the 2012 Quarterfinal, the Capitals knocked off the reigning champs with an extra time purpose of their very own in Sport 7. Slightly below three minutes into extra time, Joel Ward scored his first purpose of the playoffs to finish the collection. Curiously, the subsequent night time would even have a Sport 7 game-winner however not like the Capitals, the workforce that scored the purpose went on to achieve the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
The Devils confronted the Florida Panthers within the Quarterfinal collection and after Sport 6 went to extra time, the ultimate sport of the collection went to double extra time. 21-year-old Adam Henrique, who would turn into a pivotal a part of the playoff run, collected a bouncing puck within the offensive zone and fired it into the web for his second purpose of the sport. The Devils would then sweep the Flyers within the subsequent spherical and in a six-game collection towards the rival New York Rangers, Henrique would rating the overtime-winning purpose to ship them to the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
The subsequent purpose could be a dagger to the hearts of Maple Leafs’ followers. The Bruins trailed within the 2013 Sport 7 Quarterfinal 4-1 within the third interval however three unanswered objectives tied the sport 4-4 and prevented the Maple Leafs from advancing within the playoffs for the primary time since 2004. In extra time, Bergeron discovered a juicy rebound off a Tyler Seguin shot and shot the puck previous a sprawling James Reimer to finish the sport and the collection. The Bruins would attain the Stanley Cup Ultimate and lose to the Blackhawks in a six-game collection whereas their Authentic Six rival would proceed to endure heartbreak after heartbreak within the first spherical.
Whereas many forwards have scored the sudden-death game-winners, Brent Seabrook is likely one of the few defensemen to attain a series-clinching purpose together with his purpose within the 2013 Western Convention Semifinal. With the Chicago Blackhawks twisted up at one purpose apiece with the Purple Wings in Sport 7, Seabrook carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired a fast wrister previous goaltender Jimmy Howard. The purpose despatched the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, the place they finally defeated the Bruins in six video games.
Virtually 11 years to the day that Brunette scored the walk-off purpose towards the Avalanche, Nino Niederrieter scored a Sport 7 extra time purpose to present the Wild a 5-4 win and permit them to advance to the Second Spherical. The purpose had uncanny similarities to Brunette’s in 2003 because it got here in extra time, in the identical area (Pepsi Middle), on an odd-man rush, within the first spherical of the playoffs. Niederreiter’s wrist shot slipped previous Semyon Varlamov’s glove and left the group shocked because the Wild ended the collection.
The cap off years of powerful luck, the Capitals confronted the Rangers within the Second Spherical in 2015 and constructed a 3-1 collection lead. The Rangers battled again with a 2-1 extra time win in Sport 5 and a 4-3 win in Sport 6 to pressure a winner-take-all sport. Within the collection finale, Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby have been locked right into a 1-1 goaltending duel with each making over 35 saves within the sport. Lastly, a Dan Girardi shot bounced off Holtby and proper to Derek Stepan who shortly fired the puck into the web to finish the collection and ship the Rangers to the Japanese Convention Ultimate.
The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been uncommon for a large number of causes. The Lightning, who gained the Presidents’ Trophy with a 62-16-4 file have been swept within the first spherical by the Columbus Blue Jackets whereas the Blues gained their first Stanley Cup title in franchise historical past with one of many best midseason turnarounds in sports activities historical past. Nevertheless, one of many distinctive components of the 2019 playoffs was that three matchups ended with Sport 7 extra time winners, two of which have been on back-to-back nights.
The San Jose Sharks already got here again from a 3-1 collection deficit to pressure Sport 7 towards the Vegas Golden Knights however the sport itself was one of the crucial memorable lately. Trailing 3-0 within the third interval veteran skater Joe Pavelski took a success that gave the Sharks a five-minute main energy play, by which they scored 4 objectives earlier than the sport ended up going to extra time tied 4-4. In extra time, Barclay Goodrow sniped the game-winner previous Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to finish the comeback in each the sport and the collection.
The next night time, the Hurricanes confronted a Capitals workforce that was at house and trying to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. In a 3-3 sport that went to double extra time, Justin Williams who was generally known as “Mr. Sport 7“, fired a puck on the web that Brock McGinn redirected to assist the Hurricanes pull off the collection upset and silence the Capitals crowd within the course of. The upset additionally added to the oddity of the 2019 playoffs with the 4 top-seeded groups eradicated within the first spherical.
After the 2 first-round sudden-death collection winners, the second spherical offered an extra time Sport 7 that helped propel the winner to the Western Convention Ultimate and finally win their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past. The Blues and Dallas Stars have been locked in a 1-1 sport that went to double extra time however a Robert Thomas shot despatched Stars goaltender Ben Bishop sprawling for the puck, permitting Pat Maroon to faucet within the game-winning purpose. The purpose kickstarted a outstanding run within the playoffs for Maroon as he not solely gained the Stanley Cup that 12 months however the subsequent two years as nicely taking part in for the Lightning.
The 2020 Bubble (Stars-Avalanche)
The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs will all the time be remembered for being a one-of-a-kind because it was performed in an empty Scotiabank Area in Toronto and Rogers Place in Edmonton due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stars and Colorado Avalanche performed a back-and-forth Sport 7, which appropriately determined a back-and-forth second-round collection. In a 4-4 sport, the Stars managed the puck within the offensive zone and Joel Kiviranta discovered an open shot within the slot to not solely full a hat trick within the sport however finish the collection.
The purpose helped propel the Stars to the Stanley Cup Ultimate however their luck would run out after that. They misplaced to the Lightning in six video games within the Ultimate, missed the playoffs the subsequent season, and have been a wild card workforce within the 2021-22 season. The decline from being a borderline Cup contender to a middling workforce within the Western Convention compelled head coach Rick Bowness to step down and the entrance workplace to tweak the roster. The Avalanche alternatively used the tough defeat as gasoline. After shedding to the Stars in Sport 7 in extra time and to the Golden Knights the subsequent 12 months, they went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2022 and the playoff heartbreak helped gasoline a run the place they went 16-4 to win the title.
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
On Might 15, 2022, hockey followers have been handled to 2 nice, memorable Sport 7 first-round matchups. The Rangers defeated the Penguins 4-3, whereas the Flames defeated the Stars 3-2. It was the primary time since 1997 that two Sport 7’s went into extra time on the identical night time, making it arguably one of the crucial memorable nights for followers lately.
The second extra time winner that night time was sadly the one brilliant second for the Flames. Johnny Gaudreau scored the purpose to permit them to beat the Stars within the collection in what grew to become his final nice second with the franchise. Sadly, the workforce misplaced to the Oilers within the subsequent spherical in a five-game collection. Then the Flames spiraled downward as Gaudreau left in free company and the workforce missed the playoff the subsequent season, leading to each the final supervisor (GM) Brad Treliving and head coach Darryl Sutter being fired.
2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Bruins ended the 2022-23 season with the perfect file within the NHL and arguably the nice common season in league historical past going 65-12-5 to win the Presidents’ Trophy. After constructing a 3-1 collection lead within the First Spherical, they seemed poised to advance and turn into the primary workforce because the 2007-08 Purple Wings to complete an 82-game season with the perfect file and win the Cup.
The Panthers had different plans. They not solely battled again in Sport 5 to steal the sport on the street with an extra time victory however then gained Sport 6 to pressure a winner-take-all sport at TD Backyard on Sunday, April thirtieth. Trailing 3-2 within the closing minute of the sport, defenseman Brandon Montour, who scored earlier within the sport fired the puck to the again of the web to pressure extra time.
Regardless of squandering a late lead, historical past was nonetheless on the Bruins’ facet. They’d 4 Sport 7 overtime-winning objectives of their franchise historical past, the Panthers had none. Nevertheless, within the extra time interval, Carter Verhaeghe, who scored 42 objectives that season however just one within the collection, shot the puck to the highest shelf and previous goaltender Jeremy Swayman to win the sport 4-3. The purpose left the Bruins, the house crowd, and hockey followers at massive shocked because the Panthers accomplished one of many best upsets in NHL historical past.
Different Sport 7 Additional time Sport-Successful Targets
There have been 48 whole objectives that have been in sudden-death extra time in Video games 7’s. The 25 talked about above have been both within the Ultimate, Seminal, or the previous 23 years. The opposite Sport 7 extra time winners have been within the First Spherical or Second Spherical of the playoffs with some objectives merely being a shining second whereas others helped gasoline deep playoff runs.
1950 Semifinal
To ensure that Babando to attain his Stanley Cup Ultimate game-winner, the Purple Wings wanted to achieve the Ultimate first. They did so in a low-scoring duel towards the Maple Leafs the place Leo Reise, who scored solely 5 objectives to that time within the season and solely 36 in his profession, scored the primary and solely purpose of the sport.
1972 Quarterfinals
The Blues and North Stars have been locked in a 1-1 sport and ahead Kevin O’Shea of all skaters was the one to finish the sport and the collection. O’Shea performed in solely 4 common season video games with the Blues after he was waived by the Buffalo Sabres that 12 months however he stepped up and scored the series-clinching purpose. It didn’t assist the workforce make a run sadly as they have been swept by the Bruins within the subsequent spherical (a standard theme of the Nineteen Seventies for each franchises).
1978 Quarterfinals
The Maple Leafs’ stars stepped up when it mattered most within the early-round collection towards the New York Islanders. Lanny McDonald, who led the workforce with 47 objectives that 12 months and would go on to have a Corridor-of-Fame profession, scored the game-winner with a nifty transfer to create an open shot and slip the puck previous goaltender Mike Palmateer. The Maple Leafs have been swept by the Canadiens within the subsequent spherical whereas the Islanders would go on to win the Stanley Cup two years later as a part of a run the place they gained 4 consecutive titles.
80s OT Winners
1983 Adams Division Finals
The Bruins trailed 2-0 in Sport 7 to the Sabres however two objectives within the second interval, together with one by Corridor of Fame defenseman Brad Park compelled the sport into extra time. After scoring the game-tying purpose, the 34-year-old Park scored the purpose in extra time to finish the comeback. The purpose capped off a outstanding profession however sadly, the Bruins bumped into the dynasty of the period within the subsequent spherical, shedding to the Islanders in a six-game collection.
1984 Norris Division Finals
The North Stars and the Blues have been as soon as once more dealing with each other in a seven-game collection within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This time, the North Stars got here out on high with a Steve Payne purpose to ship them to the subsequent spherical with a 4-3 victory. They ran into the workforce of the longer term because the Oilers swept them within the subsequent spherical on their strategy to their first of 5 Cup titles within the decade.
1985 Adams Division Finals
Peter Stastny was one of many best gamers in NHL historical past and he put an exclamation level on a 100-point season together with his extra time winner, permitting the Quebec Nordiques to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. The Nordiques misplaced to the Philadelphia Flyers within the subsequent spherical however the purpose was a bookmark in an ideal profession for Stastny, who scored 33 extra playoff objectives and could be elected to the Corridor of Fame in 1998.
1986 Adam Division Finals
Within the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup run, 20-year-old ahead Claude Lemieux was top-of-the-line skaters throughout the playoffs. He scored 10 objectives and 6 assists together with the game-winning purpose towards the Hartford Whalers to assist the Canadiens win their twenty second title in franchise historical past. It was his first of many profitable playoff runs for Lemieux as he’d rating 80 objectives and 78 assists in 234 profession playoff video games whereas profitable the Cup 4 occasions.
1987 Patrick Division Semifinals
The sport generally known as the “Easter Epic” took 4 extra time intervals to determine a collection winner however after 128 minutes, the Islanders defeated the Capitals. Corridor of Fame heart Pat LaFontaine was the hero of the marathon sport as he hit the within of the put up to internet the 3-2 game-winner in a sport that began on Saturday night time and ended Sunday morning.
1988 Patrick Division Semifinals
After the Capitals have been on the improper finish of the “Easter Epic” they bounced again the subsequent 12 months towards the Flyers. Down 3-1 within the collection, they compelled a Sport 7, after which within the deciding sport, they got here again from a 3-0 deficit to pressure extra time at 4 objectives apiece. Dale Hunter, who scored the workforce’s third interval purpose, scored the series-winning purpose. Hunter scored three overtime-winning objectives within the playoffs with the Quebec Nordiques earlier in his profession however his first with the Capitals despatched them to the subsequent spherical.
1989 Smythe Division Semifinal
The Flames had a 12 months to recollect after they gained their first and solely Stanley Cup title in franchise historical past. Within the first matchup within the playoffs, they have been on the point of elimination as they went to extra time with a 3-3 tie towards the Canucks in Sport 7. Luckily, heart Joel Otto, who was a dependable contributor to the offense all season, stepped up and rating the game-winner. The remainder is historical past because the Flames scorched previous the remainder of the competitors to win the Cup, defeating the Canadiens in a six-game collection.
90s OT Winners
1991 Smythe Division Semifinals
The Battle of Alberta lived as much as the hype! The Flames and Edmonton Oilers performed in a back-and-forth collection and Sport 7 was no exception. The Flames took a 3-0 lead then the Oilers got here storming again with 4 unanswered objectives and held the lead till the ultimate 2:10 of regulation when Ronnie Stern scored the game-tying purpose to pressure extra time. The hero was Edmonton’s main scorer and sometimes neglected icon Esa Tikkanen, who scored the game-winner and the hat trick to finish the collection.
1992 Adam Division Semifinals
Russ Courtnall solely scored seven objectives within the 1991-92 season and one purpose within the playoffs. Nevertheless, his one purpose allowed the Canadiens to defeat the Whalers 3-2 in Sport 7 in a double-overtime sport.
1993 Norris Division Semifinals
Earlier than the Purple Wings grew to become the workforce of the late Nineties they needed to undergo some heartbreak. In Sport 7 towards the Maple Leafs, Nikolai Borschevsky, who scored a team-leading 34 objectives that season, re-directed a Bob Rouse shot from the purpose into the again of the web to finish the sport simply 2:35 into extra time. The Maple Leafs would lose within the Western Convention Ultimate to the Los Angeles Kings in a seven-game collection (for 5 years, they have been within the Western Convention a bizarre however fascinating a part of the workforce’s historical past). The Purple Wings in the meantime used the tough defeat as gasoline and the core gamers, particularly Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, and Sergei Federov, would bounce again later within the decade to win a number of Cup titles.
1993 Patrick Division Finals
The Penguins gained back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1991 and 1992 and seemed poised to make one other run on the Cup. Nevertheless, the Islanders not solely gave them a hard-fought collection however upset them on their house ice in extra time of the decisive sport. The Islanders’ hero was David Volek a ahead who scored eight objectives all season however two within the 4-3 Sport 7 victory.
1994 Western Convention Quarterfinals
5 years after the Flames put a dagger into the hearts of Canucks’ followers, they acquired their revenge. It got here off the stick of Corridor of Famer Pavel Bure as he scored his two objectives in a 4-3 victory in Sport 7, together with the game-winner in double-overtime. The purpose kickstarted the Canucks outstanding playoff run that noticed them attain the Stanley Cup Ultimate the place they misplaced to the Rangers in a memorable seven-game collection.
1995 Western Convention Quarterfinals
The theme of the collection between the Flames and Sharks was objectives, objectives, and extra objectives as the 2 groups mixed for 61 objectives. Sport 7 was one other high-scoring sport with Ray Whitney scoring the game-winner in double extra time to present the Sharks a 5-4 victory. Whitney was 22 years previous and in his fourth 12 months within the NHL when he scored the extra time winner and whereas his purpose didn’t end in a Stanley Cup title, he’d finally hoist the Cup 11 years later taking part in for the Hurricanes.
1996 Western Convention Semifinals
The Purple Wings and Blues have been locked right into a scoreless defensive battle. A Sport 7 that featured Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Fedorov, and 10 different Corridor of Famers, the protection, showcased by Lidstrom and Chris Pronger, was in management till the tip. After 81:quarter-hour of scoreless hockey, Yzerman fired a slapshot from the blue line to attain his team-leading sixth purpose of the collection and permit the Purple Wings to advance to the subsequent spherical.
1997 Japanese Convention Quarterfinals
The Sabres and Senators entered the playoffs as two of the younger, up-and-coming groups within the NHL. The collection went the space and in a 2-2 sport, Derek Plante was the distinction maker, scoring the game-tying purpose within the third interval to pressure the sport to extra time after which scoring the game-winner.
1997 Western Convention Quarterfinals
The identical night time that the Sabres gained with a Sport 7 overtime-winning purpose, the Oilers edged the Stars in a 4-3 sport courtesy of a Todd Marchant purpose. The fast-skating Marchant gained an edge on the Stars’ protection and went to the highest shelf for the game-winner to ship the Oilers to the subsequent spherical. Curiously, the Stars, who misplaced the sport would go on to win the Stanley Cup two years later towards the Sabres, the opposite workforce that scored the Sport 7 game-winner that night time.
1999 Western Convention Quarterfinals
In a scoreless duel between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Blues, Pierre Turgeon had the proper deflection on a Ricard Persson shot, giving the Blues a 1-0 extra time victory. The Sport 7 win propelled them to the subsequent spherical however the momentum didn’t final lengthy as they misplaced to the eventual Stanley Cup champion within the Stars.
The optimum ending within the Stanley Cup Playoffs is a game-winning purpose in extra time. Whereas extra time winners are frequent, seeing a collection finish determined with an extra time winner is a uncommon prevalence however one which makes playoff hockey particular. The depth, the execution, and the response to the objectives are what make the sport as breathtaking as it’s.