It is April, which means one thing for hockey fans: The quest for the Stanley Cup begins.
The NHL's postseason is arguably the toughest postseason of the four major sports pro leagues as the majority of the time the teams that have produced the best records over the regular season don't even make it to the final round, sometimes.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is a magical time for hockey fans with the playoffs set to to begin, I thought I would write a series of articles, round by round, accounting the greatest moments in Stanley Cup Playoff history.
I am going to start off with the first round, which I define as the round of 16 ever since the NHL expanded the playoffs to include 16 teams beginning with the 1980 playoffs:
So, let's get started with the 25 best moments that have happened in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
The NHL's postseason is arguably the toughest postseason of the four major sports pro leagues as the majority of the time the teams that have produced the best records over the regular season don't even make it to the final round, sometimes.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is a magical time for hockey fans with the playoffs set to to begin, I thought I would write a series of articles, round by round, accounting the greatest moments in Stanley Cup Playoff history.
I am going to start off with the first round, which I define as the round of 16 ever since the NHL expanded the playoffs to include 16 teams beginning with the 1980 playoffs:
So, let's get started with the 25 best moments that have happened in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
25. 1985-Kerrific
With his team trailing 3-2 to the New York Rangers in the second period of Game 3, Flyers right winger Tim Kerr single-handedly took over the game as he would score four goals in a span of 8:16, three of them on the power play, both NHL records as Philadelphia would go on to win the game 6-5 completing the three-game sweep(The first round was a best-of-5 from 1980-86).
After blowing a 3-0 lead in the final nine minutes of Game 4 to lose 4-3 in overtime and fall behind 3-1 in their series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Washington Capitals would win the next two games by a combined score of 12-4 to force a Game 7, where the Caps fell behind 3-0 but would score 4 unanswered goals to a take a 4-3 lead with 15 minutes left in the third period, only to have the Flyers to tie the game a minute later, sending the game into overtime.
That is where Caps defenseman Dale Hunter scored on a breakaway 5:57 into overtime to give the Capitals a 5-4 win and the series win.
23. 2007-Luongo's Long Debut
In his first career start, Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo stopped 72 out of 76 shots as Vancouver won Game 1 of their series against the Dallas Stars 5-4 as Canucks center Henrik Sedin scored the game winner with 1:54 left in the fourth overtime to end the eighth longest game in NHL history.
The Canucks would go on to the series in six games.
22. 2011-San Jose Surge
After falling behind 4-0 early in the second period, the San Jose Sharks outscore the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 during the rest of the period to tie the game at 5.
Following a scoreless third period, the game went overtime where Sharks right winger Devin Setoguchi would score the game-winner, just three minutes into the extra period to give San Jose a 6-5 win, marking the fifth time a team had come back from at least four goals down to win a game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Sharks would go on to win the series in six games.
21. 2001-The Stunner At Staples
The Red Wings seemed to have seized control of their series against the Kings as they held a 3-0 lead with 6:07 to go in regulation of Game 4 as they lead the series 2-1.
But the Kings would score three straight goals, the last coming courtesy of center Bryan Smolinski with 53 seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime where just 2:36 in, LA right winger Ian Laperriere put in the game-winner to give the Kings a 4-3 win.
The Kings would ride the momentum of their comeback win to win the next two games and upset the Red Wings in six games, thanks to the game that became known as the “Stunner At Staples”.
20. 1997-Oil Spill
The Dallas Stars looked to be on their way to a 2-1 series lead as they held a 3-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers with four minutes left to play in regulation in Game 3.
But the Oilers score three goals in a span of 1 minute and 56 seconds, to tie the game and force overtime where Edmonton right winger Kelly Buchberger scores the game winning goal, 9:15 into the extra period to give the Oilers a 4-3 win and a 2-1 series lead.
The Oilers would eventually win the series in seven games.
19. 2010-Canadiens Capsize Washington
Almost every hockey pundit and fan felt the Capitals-Canadiens series was going to be short it seemed like was going to be the case as the Capitals(who won the President’s Trophy with 121 points) held a 3-1 series lead over the Canadiens(who finished with 88 points) after winning two games in Montreal by the combined score of 11-4.
But Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak got hot at the right time as he stopped 131 of 134 shots over the next three games to help lead the Canadiens to a stunning comeback as they won the next three games to shock the Capitals, becoming the first #8 seed to ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit to win a NHL playoff series(The NHL used the #1-8 conference format from 1994-2013).
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| Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halek shakes hands with the Capitals' Alex Ovechekin after Montreal stunned Washington. |
17. 1994-Taking A Bite Out of Hockeytown
The San Jose Sharks, who were making their first playoff appearance in team history in just their third season, were not expected to give much of a challenge to the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings.
However, the Sharks upset the Red Wings in seven games as San Jose center Jamie Baker scored the game-winning goal with over six minutes to go regulation for the 3-2 win in Game 7.
17. 1989-The Save(Calgary Edition)
In the overtime period of Game 7, the Vancouver Canucks’ Stan Smyl had the puck on a breakaway with a chance to score the series-winning goal and pull off the upset of the Calgary Flames.
But Flames goaltender Mike Vernon made the save with his glove and then almost fell backwards into the net, but kept his glove out of the goal to keep the score tied.
The save would allow the Flames to win the game on center Joel Otto’s goal with 39 seconds left in overtime for the 4-3 win and allow Calgary to continue on their run to winning the Stanley Cup.
16. 1994-The Save(Vancouver Edition)
Five years later, the shoe was on the other foot(or skate) as it was the Canucks who made a remarkable save in overtime of Game 7 to allow their team to win.
With the score tied 3-3 midway through overtime, the Flames had a chance to win the game and the series as Flames center Robert Reichel had a wide open net when he shot the puck, only to have Canucks goalie Kirk McLean come across his body and stopped the puck with his skate to keep the game going which ended 2:20 into the second overtime period when Vancouver right winger Pavel Bure scored the game and series winning goal to give the Canucks the 4-3 win, sparking their run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
15. 1991-The Save(Pittsburgh Edition)
Facing elimination as they trailed the New Jersey Devils 3-2, the Pittsburgh Penguins had to turn to backup goaltender Frank Pietrangelo as starter Tom Barrasso was out with a shoulder injury.
The Pens lead the game 2-1 late in the first period when the Devils had a power play and in the Penguins’ zone when Devils center Peter Stastny shot the puck at a wide open net, only to have Pietrangelo grab the puck with his glove to deny the Devils what looked like a sure goal.
The save proved to be the difference in the game as the Penguins won 4-3, forcing a Game 7 which Pittsburgh won easily 4-0.
14. 2019-Sharks Take A Bite Out of Vegas
It looked like the Las Vegas Golden Knights were on their way to a Game 7 victory as they held a 3-0 lead over the San Jose Sharks with under 11 minutes to play.
However, Knights center Cody Eakin gets called for a five-minute major penalty after cross-checking Sharks right winger Joe Pavelski, which left Pavelski knocked out cold and bloodied.
San Jose got a five-minute power play and erased the three-goal deficit by scoring four goals in 4:08 with right winger Kevin Labanc scoring the go-ahead goal to give the Sharks a 4-3 lead with 6:39 to go in regulation.
However, Knights center Cody Eakin gets called for a five-minute major penalty after cross-checking Sharks right winger Joe Pavelski, which left Pavelski knocked out cold and bloodied.
San Jose got a five-minute power play and erased the three-goal deficit by scoring four goals in 4:08 with right winger Kevin Labanc scoring the go-ahead goal to give the Sharks a 4-3 lead with 6:39 to go in regulation.
But the Knights' Jonathan Marchessault would score with 47 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send the game into overtime where Barclay Goodrow would score the game-winner for the Sharks with 1:41 left in the overtime period to give San Jose an improbable 5-4 victory.
13. 1989-A Goal for The Goalies
Having all made history as the second goaltender to be credited with a goal, Flyers goalie Ron Hextall became the first goalie to score in a goal in the playoffs when he fired into the empty net of the Washington Capitals to seal Philadelphia's 8-5 win in Game 5 of their series, giving the Flyers a 3-2 series lead as Philadelphia would win Game 6 to clinch the series.
Since Hextall’s goal, only one other goalie, Martin Brodeur in 1997, has a goaltender scored a goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
12. 1991-Minnesota Miracle
The Minnesota North Stars(now the Dallas Stars), who finished the 1991 season with just 27 wins and 68 points, stun the President Trophy winner Chicago Blackhawks, who won 49 games and compiled 106 points, with a six-game series win to begin the North Stars’ Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 38-point differential between the two teams remains the second largest differential in a team’s upset win over another in Stanley Cup playoff history. |
| Minnesota left winger Brian Bellows watches the puck get past Chicago goaltender Ed Belfour during the North Stars' 1991 series against the Blackhawks. |
Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek lives up to his nickname as “The Dominator” as he stops 70 shots as Buffalo defeats the New Jersey Devils 1-0 as Buffalo left winger Dave Hannan scores the game-winner 5:43 into the fourth overtime, ending the 12th longest game in NHL history and forcing a Game 7, which the Sabres would lose.
10. 2009-Cardiac Canes
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| Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek's incredible 70-save shutout performance forced a Game 7 with the New Jersey Devils. |
In their series with the New Jersey Devils, the Carolina Hurricanes pulled out not one but two remarkable last-minute victories.
In Game 4, Dennis Seidenberg slapped a shot that went off the skate off Carolina left winger Jussi Jokinen and into the back of the net with 0.2 seconds to go in regulation, to give the Hurricanes a 4-3 win with the latest game-winning goal in regulation in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which tied the series 2-2.
Then in Game 7, the Canes were down 2-1 when Jokinen scored to tie the game 2-2 with 1:20 left, which was followed 49 seconds later by Eric Staal’s game-winner to give Carolina a 3-2 win and the series win.
9. 1993-May Day
Sabres left winger Brad May scores the game-winning goal 4:48 into overtime of Game 4, to give Buffalo a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins, completing a shocking sweep of the team with the second most points in the NHL that year(109) and leading to this famous call by Sabres announcer Rick Jeanneret.
7. 2019-Columbus Strikes Down Tampa Bay8. 1996-Better Late Than Nedved
The Penguins’ Petr Nedved scores a power-play goal with 44 seconds left in the fourth overtime to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals in the fifth longest game in NHL history and longest game ever played in the round of 16.
The Penguins would go on to win the next two games to win the series in six.After tying the NHL record for most regular season wins(62), the Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a fast start in their first round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period of Game 1.
But the Blue Jackets, who finished 30 points behind the Lightning in the regular season, scored four unanswered goals to win Game 1 by the score of 4-3, then outscored Tampa Bay 15-5 over the next three games to pull off the shocking sweep and earn Columbus its first ever postseason series win.
The Boston Bruins put together a historic regular season in 2023 as they set new NHL records for most regular season wins with 65 and most points with 135 as they claimed the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs where they drew the Florida Panthers, who finished with 42 wins and 92 points.
The Bruins seemed to poise to advance to the second round as they drew a 3-1 series lead only to have the Panthers win the next two games to force a Game 7 back in Boston.
The Bruins come back from a two-goal deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the third period until Florida defensemen Brandon Montour tied the game with a minute left in regulation to send the game into overtime where Panthers left winger Carter Verhaeghe scored the winning goal 8:35 into the extra period to complete the stunning upset.
5. 2020-A Fifth Overtime Lightning Strike
One year after they meet in the first round(see number 7), the Blue Jackets and the Lightning meet in the first round again as their series begins with the fourth longest game in NHL history which ends when Tampa Bay center Brayden Point finally gets one past Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who came up with a NHL playoff record 85 saves, with 9:33 left in the fifth overtime to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 win.
Point would score another overtime goal in the series clincher as the Lightning avenged their embarrassing loss from the year before by knocking out the Blue Jackets in five games.
One year after they meet in the first round(see number 7), the Blue Jackets and the Lightning meet in the first round again as their series begins with the fourth longest game in NHL history which ends when Tampa Bay center Brayden Point finally gets one past Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who came up with a NHL playoff record 85 saves, with 9:33 left in the fifth overtime to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 win.
Point would score another overtime goal in the series clincher as the Lightning avenged their embarrassing loss from the year before by knocking out the Blue Jackets in five games.
4. 2014-King Size Comeback
After San Jose left winger Patrick Marleau scored the game-winning goal 6:20 into overtime of Game 3, it appeared that the Sharks had essentially punched to their ticket to the next round as they held a 3-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Kings.
But the Kings came roaring back as they outscored the Sharks 18-5 over the next four games, including an easy 5-1 win in Game 7 in San Jose to become the fourth team in NHL history to come back from a 0-3 series deficit to win a playoff series.
3. 2013-Boston Strong
Just one month after the bombing at the Boston Marathon, the Boston Bruins reflected the strength of their city with a dramatic comeback in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Down 4-1 midway through the third period, Bruins right winger Nathan Horton scored with over 10 minutes to go, trimming the deficit to two goals at 4-2.
The score remained 4-2 when Boston left winger Milan Lucic scored off a rebound with 1:22 left to make it a 4-3 game.
Then just 31 seconds later, center Patrice Bergeron fired a one-timer from near the red line that found the back of the net for the game-tying goal with 51 seconds left in regulation.
The game would go into overtime where Bergeron would score the game-winner 6:05 into the extra period, making the Bruins the first game to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period.
2. 1987-Easter Epic
Game 7 of the first round series between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals took so long it was played into the early hours of Easter Sunday Morning, leading this game to become known as the “Easter Epic”.
The Capitals held a 2-1 lead when Islanders center Bryan Trottier scored with 5:23 left in regulation to tie the game at 2.
Little did anyone know but that would be the last goal scored for a few hours as both goaltenders, the Islanders’ Kelly Hrudey and the Capitals’ Bob Mason,took over the game as Hrudey would stop 73 shots, including the last 50 he faced while Mason stopped 36 straight shots until New York’s Pat LaFontaine finally ended the marathon with his game-winning goal at 1:58 in the morning, 6 hours and 18 minutes after the game’s opening faceoff, and 8:47 into the fourth overtime period, to end the longest Game 7 in NHL playoff history
1.1982-Miracle on Manchester
The fact that the Los Angeles Kings, who had finished the regular season with just 24 wins and 63 points, had won one game in their first round series with the Edmonton Oilers, who had won twice as many games as the Kings and tallied 111 points, was a mini-miracle, but what happened in Game 3, was maybe the greatest miracle in NHL history.
The Oilers dominated the first 40 minutes of play as they built up a 5-0 lead after two periods of play and were poised to take a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five series.
But the Kings were able to slowly chip at the lead as they scored 4 straight goals to make it a 5-4 game with just over four minutes to play in regulation.
Then with five seconds left, LA left winger Steve Bozek scored the goal which tied the game to force overtime where after center Doug Smith won a faceoff, he passed it to Daryl Evans, whose shot made it past Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr’s glove and into the net for the game-winning goal 2:35 into the extra period, to give Los Angeles a 6-5 victory as they overcome the largest deficit to win a game in Stanley Cup playoff history.
The game become known as the “Miracle on Manchester” as it was played at the Great Western Forum on Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood, California and helped propelled the Kings to a shocking upset over the Oilers as they won the series in five games.
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