This list are moments that have occurred in the round of four, which were called the NHL semifinals until 1982 when the NHL adapted the Conference format for the postseason, with the Prince of Wales(East) and Clarence Campbell Conference(West) until 1994 when they simply changed the names of the conferences to East and West.
With that explanation out of the way, here are the 25 Greatest NHL Conference Finals Moments:
25. 1975-Broad Street Bullies Block Isles' Miracle Comeback
Even though they held a 3-0 series lead over the New York Islanders, the Philadelphia Flyers knew the series because the Islanders had come back from a 0-3 series deficit in the previous round to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sure enough, the Islanders would win the next three games to force a Game 7 back in Philadelphia where the Flyers prevented New York from a second straight miracle comeback as Philadelphia center Rick MacLeish's hat trick led to a 4-1 victory for the "Broad Street Bullies" and a second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs quest to become the first team to win four Stanley Cups in a row comes to an end at the hands of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Leo Reise Jr, who scores the game-winning goal 8:39 into the overtime period of Game 7 to give Detroit a 1-0 win and send them to the Stanley Cup Finals.
23. 1968-St. Louis 'Schocker'
It was fitting in the year where the NHL doubled the number of teams from six to 12, that two of the six new teams would meet in a semifinal series for a chance to go to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The St. Louis Blues and Minnesota North Stars played a seven-game series that didn't end until Blues center Ron Schock scored the game-winner 2:50 into the second overtime of Game 7, to give the Blues a 2-1 victory and send them to the first of their three straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals.
22. 1951-Montreal's Monumental Upset
The Montreal Candiens entered their semifinal series with the Detroit Red Wings as heavy underdogs as the Red Wings were not the defending Stanley Cup Champions, but also finished with 101 points during the regular season, 36 more than Montreal who finished with 65.
But thanks to their four-overtime win in Game 1 and triple overtime win in Game 2, the Canadiens shocked the Red Wings in six games to earn a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 36-point differential was the largest regular season point differential for a team to win a NHL playoff series until the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Edmonton Oilers in 1982, despite LA finishing 48 points behind Edmonton.
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| Maurice "Rocket" Richard scored the game-winning goals of the Canadiens' overtime wins in Games 1 and 2. |
The Los Angeles Kings become the first team in NHL history to win three game 7s on the road in the same postseason as they knock off the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks with a 5-4 overtime win on Alec Martinez's game-winner 5:47 into the extra period to send LA to their second Stanley Cup Finals in three years.
20. 1976-Lethal Leach
Flyers right winger Reggie Leach becomes the fourth player in NHL history to score five goals in a playoff game as he scores five of Philadelphia' six goals in their 6-3 win in Game 5 of their semifinal series against the Boston Bruins, clinching the Flyers their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
19. 2003-Getting Giggy With It
Anaheim Mighty Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere gives up only one goal in four games, the fewest ever allowed by a goaltender in a best-of-seven series in Stanley Cup playoff history, as he puts together a scoreless streak of 217 minutes and 54 seconds, as the Ducks sweep the Minnesota Wild to earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
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| Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 122 of 123 shots in the Ducks' four-game sweep of the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 Western Conference Finals. |
Late in the first period of a scoreless Game 6, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy makes a save of a shot from Detroit Red Wings center Steve Yzerman.
Standing in a pose reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty, the puck falls out of Roy's glove and back onto the ice where Red Wings left winger Brendan Shanahan puts into the net for a Detroit goal that gives the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.
Roy's gaffe marks a turning point in the series as the Red Wings would on to win Game 6 by the score of 2-0, forcing a Game 7 where Roy gives up seven goals as Detroit wins 7-0 to win their fourth Western conference title in eight years.
17. 2017-Kunitz's Knuckler
Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Chris Kunitz does his own version of the "knucklepuck" from The Mighty Ducks movies as he scores the game-winning goal 5:09 into the second overtime period of Game 7, giving the Penguins a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators and sending them to their second straight Stanley Cup Finals.
16. 1996-Birth of a Rivalry
In the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, Colorado Avalanche right winger Claude Lemeiux hits Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper from behind and into the boards, breaking Draper's jaw, orbital bone around his eye, and shattering his cheek.
Lemieux is ejected from the game while his Avalanche go on to win 4-1 to clinch their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
After the postgame handshakes, Detroit right winger Dino Ciccarelli said "I can believe I shook this guy(Lemieux)'s hand".
The hit by Lemieux begins one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of the NHL as the two teams would engage in several brawls over the next few years(Click on the left to play the video).
15. 2000-Devil of a Comeback
The New Jersey Devils become the first team(and thus far)only team to come back a from a 3-1 series deficit to win a Conference Finals/League Semifinal series as they win the last three game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, culminating with a 2-1 win in Game 7 in Philadelphia on left winger Patrik Elias's game-winner with 2:32 to go in regulation.
This game is also remembered for the hit Devils defenseman Scott Stevens laid out on Flyers center Eric Lindros, knocking Lindros out of the game and ending his career as a Philadelphia Flyer.
11. 2023-Florida's Four Overtime Triumph
Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Chris Kunitz does his own version of the "knucklepuck" from The Mighty Ducks movies as he scores the game-winning goal 5:09 into the second overtime period of Game 7, giving the Penguins a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators and sending them to their second straight Stanley Cup Finals.
16. 1996-Birth of a Rivalry
In the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, Colorado Avalanche right winger Claude Lemeiux hits Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper from behind and into the boards, breaking Draper's jaw, orbital bone around his eye, and shattering his cheek.
Lemieux is ejected from the game while his Avalanche go on to win 4-1 to clinch their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
After the postgame handshakes, Detroit right winger Dino Ciccarelli said "I can believe I shook this guy(Lemieux)'s hand".
The hit by Lemieux begins one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of the NHL as the two teams would engage in several brawls over the next few years(Click on the left to play the video).
15. 2000-Devil of a Comeback
The New Jersey Devils become the first team(and thus far)only team to come back a from a 3-1 series deficit to win a Conference Finals/League Semifinal series as they win the last three game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, culminating with a 2-1 win in Game 7 in Philadelphia on left winger Patrik Elias's game-winner with 2:32 to go in regulation.
14. 1986-Roy is Rangers Roadblock
Game 3 of the 1986 Wales Conference Finals is considered the coming out party for goaltender Patrick Roy as one of the greatest goalies in NHL history.
Roy, playing in his first postseason, stopped 44 shots by the New York Rangers, including 12 in the third period and then 13 in the overtime period to allow his team, the Montreal Canadiens to win the game on Claude Lemieux's goal 9:41 into the extra period for a 4-3 victory and a 3-0 series lead as the Canadiens would go on to win the series in five games.
13.1986-The Monday Night Miracle
It seemed like the Calgary Flames had their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals as they lead the Campbell Conference Finals 3-2 over the St. Louis Blues and were leading Game 6 by the score of 4-1 after two periods
The Blues scored six minutes into the third period on Doug Wickenhauser's power play goal to cut the lead to 4-2 only to have Flames right winger Joe Mullen score 64 seconds later to push the lead back to three goals at 5-2.
But another 64 seconds later, Blues left winger Brian Sutter scored to make it a two-goal game again, which it remained until St. Louis right winger Greg Paslawski scored with 4:11 left in regulation to make it a one-goal game, which Paslawski followed with the game-tying goal with 68 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
That is when the Blues completed "The Monday Night Miracle" as Wickenhauser scored the game-winner 7:30 into the extra period to give St. Louis a shocking 6-5 victory, forcing a Game 7 which the Flames would win, much to the chagrin of Blues fans.
12. 1982-Towel Power
Toward the end of Game 2 of the Campbell Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks head coach Roger Nielsen put a white towel at the end of a stick and held up in the air as to say he surrenders after a fourth consecutive penalty was called on the Canucks.
Nielsen was joined by other members of his team in the act resulting in Nielsen's ejection as well as two other players as the Canucks lost the game 4-1.
However, the towel incident inspired Vancouver, as the Canucks arrived back at the Vancouver airport to several hundred fans waving towels, which was followed by the entire crowd at the Canucks' home arena, Pacific Coliseum, waving towels as they cheered their Canucks to a 4-3 win in Game 3 as Vancouver would go on to win the series in five games.
Since then, fans waving towels has become a NHL playoff tradition just like the players refusing to shave as long as they are in the playoffs.11. 2023-Florida's Four Overtime Triumph
Panthers left winger Matthew Tkachuk, son of former NHL all-star Keith Tkachuk, ends the sixth longest game in NHL history as his goal with 12.7 seconds remaining in the fourth overtime gives Florida a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals as the Panthers would go on to sweep the Hurricanes to send Florida to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1996.
10. 1993-The Great One's Greatest Game
Of the record 50 hat tricks in his career, perhaps none was greater than the one Wayne Gretzky had in Game 7 of the Campbell Conference Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Gretzky scored the first goal of the game with his Los Angeles Kings short-handed, then assisted on right winger Tomas Sandstorm's goal to give the Kings a 2-0 lead after the first period.
After the Leafs come back to tie the game, Gretzky would score his second goal midway through the second period to put LA back up 3-2, then would complete his hat trick as his third goal came 37 seconds after left winger Mike Donnelly scored to break a 3-3 tie, as the Kings would hang on to win 5-4 and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in what Gretzky called the "greatest game he ever played".
9. 1939-Sudden Death Hill
Three of the Boston Bruins' four wins in their semifinal series against the New York Rangers end in overtime, with right winger Mel Hill scoring the game-winner in all three wins.
Hill scores the game-winner with 35 seconds left in the third overtime of Game 1 for a 2-1 Boston win, then does it again in Game 2 as his goal 8:24 into the extra period gives Boston a 3-2 win and a 2-0 series lead, then Hill scores the series winning goal eight minutes into the third overtime of Game 7 for a 3-2 Bruins victory and sending Boston to its first Stanley Cup finals since 1930.
After the series, Mel Hill earned the nickname "Sudden Death" for his game-winning heroics.
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| Boston Bruins forward Mel Hill become known as Mel "Sudden Death"Hill after his three overtime goals in the Bruins' 1939 semifinal series win against the New York Rangers. |
Game 5 of the best-of-five semifinal series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, turned into Games 6 and 7, as the game went into six overtimes and was not decided until Maple Leafs right winger Ken Doraty scored the game-winner 4:46 into the sixth overtime period to give Toronto a 1-0 win, sending the Leafs to the Finals and ending what was at the time the longest game in NHL history.
7. 1944-Rocket Richard's Rampage
In just his second career Stanley Cup playoff game, Canadiens forward Maurice "Rocket"Richard becomes the first player in 25 years to score 5 goals in a single playoff game as he accounts for all 5 of Montreal's goals in their 5-1 win in Game 2 of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Canadiens would win the next three games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
6. 1993-The Great One Gets Away With One
With Game 6 of the Campbell Conference Finals tied 4-4 in overtime, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked like they were going to get a chance to end the game and the series as LA Kings center Wayne Gretzky hit Toronto center Doug Gilmour with a high stick that drew blood from Gilmour, which would result in a five-minute power play for the Maple Leafs and a game misconduct for Gretzky.
But referee Kerry Fraser, who saw the play happened in front of him, does not call a penalty on Gretzky and even after consulting with the two other officials, a penalty is not called on Gretzky.
The missed call becomes even larger as Gretzky scores the game-winning goal to give the Kings a 5-4 win and send the series back to Toronto for a Game 7, where Gretzky's hat trick leads the Kings to another 5-4 win and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals(see moment 10).
5. 1994-Matteau!Matteau!
The New York Rangers were on the cusp of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals as they held a 1-0 lead in the final seconds of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils.
But with just 7.7 seconds to go in regulation, Devils left winger Valeri Zelepukin was able to get the puck past Rangers goaltender Mike Richter to send the game into overtime.
The game would not be decided until 4:24 into the second overtime period where Rangers left winger Stephane Matteau, who had scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 3, wrapped around the goal and put the puck past Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur to give the Rangers a 2-1 victory and send them to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1979.
However, Matteau's game-winner would have not happened if not for Game 6(again, keep reading to find out why)
4. 1979-Too Many Men
The Boston Bruins were on the verge of ending the Montreal Canadiens' three-year reign as Stanley Cup champions as Boston held a 4-3 lead in Game 7 of their semifinal series with 2:34 when the Bruins are called for too many men on the ice, resulting in a power play for the Canadiens.
The three-time defending Stanley Cup champions make the Bruins pay for their mistake as Montreal right winger Guy Lafluer scores the game-tying goal with 1:14 left in regulation, forcing overtime where left winger Yvon Lambert scores the game-winner 9:33 into the extra period to give Montreal a 5-4 win and send them to their fourth straight Stanley Cup finals(which they would win) while costing Bruins head coach Don Cherry his job.
3. 1952-The Rocket's Unconscious Goal
In the second period of Game 7 with the score tied 1-1, Maurice "Rocket" Richard is knocked unconscious after a collision with two Boston Bruins, Hal Laycoe and Leo Labine, sending the Canadiens superstar to the locker room.
Richard would return to the game in the third period with the game still tied 1-1, when he took a pass from Montreal defenseman Emile Bouchard on a four-on-four situation with four minutes to play in regulation.
"The Rocket" proceeded to avoid the puck in his own zone and dodge the poke check of Bruins center Milt Schmidt, to skate into the Boston zone where he was able to push off defenseman Bill Quackenbush, then faked out goalie Jim Henry, drawing the Bruins goaltender to his left post, then firing the puck into the far corner of the net for the go-ahead goal.
Billy Reay added an empty-net goal to give Montreal a 3-1 win, earning the Canadiens a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, thanks to what many consider to be the greatest goal ever scored by "The Rocket".
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| A bloodied Maurice "Rocket" Richard shakes the hand on Bruins goaltender Jim Henry after the Canadiens' Game 7 win in the 1952 semifinals. |
2. 1994-Messier's Guarantee
The day before the New York Rangers traveled to the Meadowlands for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which the Rangers needed to win to force a Game 7, team captain Mark Messier told the media "We're going to go in and win Game 6".
Messier's prediction didn't look like it was going to come to fruition as the New Jersey Devils held a 2-0 lead after the first period, but the Rangers cut the lead to 2-1 as Messier assisted on Alex Kovalev's 2nd period goal.
It was still 2-1 in favor of the Devils when Messier took over in the third period as his backhander got past New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur to tie the game just 2:48 into the third period, which was followed by another Messier goal with 7:48 to go in regulation putting New York in the lead, and then finally Messier adding an empty-netter 1:45 to complete his hat trick and the Rangers 4-2 win, setting up Game 7 and Matteau's heroics(see number 5).
1. 1936-The Longest Game Ever Played
After being in net for the Boston Bruins in their six-overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs(see number 8), Lorne Chabot is once again in goal for a six-overtime game, this time for the Montreal Maroons as they open up their semifinal series with the Detroit Red Wings.
This game surpasses the game from three years earlier as the longest game in NHL history by over 10 minutes as it doesn't end until Red Wings right winger Mud Brunteau puts the puck past Chabot with 3 and 1/2 minutes left in the sixth overtime, or 116:30 of extra hockey as the Red Wings win the game 1-0 at 2:25 am, almost six hours of the first face-off which occurred at 8:30 p.m.
The Red Wings would go on to win the series in three games(it was a best-of-five series)to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
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