Some NHL overtime games never fade from memory.
Hockey fans live for playoff overtime. The tension builds with every shift. One shot can end hours of battle. These moments define careers and haunt franchises for generations.
The games on this list changed hockey history. They broke records, sparked controversies, and left scars that time cannot heal. Fans still debate these outcomes today, proving that some moments refuse to die.
Let’s dive into the overtime games that continue to haunt the hockey world.
1936: The Night That Refused to End
The longest NHL game ever played stretched into six overtimes.
Detroit faced Montreal on March 24, 1936, in a semifinal clash. The game started at 8:30 PM and ended at 2:25 AM the next morning. Rookie Mud Bruneteau finally scored after 116 minutes and 30 seconds of overtime.
Goalie Normie Smith made 92 saves in the marathon contest. Players battled on ice that never got resurfaced between periods. The exhausted teams pushed through nearly three full games of hockey before the final horn sounded.
1996: Uwe Krupp Ends Colorado’s Perfect Sweep
Triple overtime decided the Stanley Cup in a defensive masterpiece.
Colorado faced Florida in Game 4 of the 1996 Finals. Both teams struggled to generate offense in a tight checking affair. The score remained tied at zero through regulation and two overtime periods.
Krupp scored at 4:31 of the third overtime to win it all. The defenseman became the first player in 16 years to clinch the Cup in overtime. His goal completed a sweep and brought Colorado their first championship.
1987: Easter Epic Crushes Washington
Pat LaFontaine ended the longest Game 7 ever played in quadruple overtime.
The Islanders and Capitals met on April 18, 1987, for a deciding game. Washington dominated early, outshooting New York heavily through regulation. Kelly Hrudey made 73 saves, still an NHL record for any single game.
LaFontaine scored at 8:47 of the fourth overtime to win it. The game lasted six hours and ended early Easter Sunday morning. Capitals fans still wonder what might have been after that crushing defeat in Landover.
1999: No Goal Breaks Buffalo Hearts
Brett Hull’s controversial Cup winner remains hockey’s most disputed overtime goal.
Dallas and Buffalo battled into triple overtime in Game 6 of the Finals. Hull’s skate was clearly in the crease when he scored the championship winner. The NHL ruled it legal, saying Hull maintained possession of the puck before entering the restricted area.
Buffalo fans erupted in protest, but the goal stood anyway. The Stars celebrated their first Cup while Sabres supporters felt robbed. Two simple words still echo through Western New York today, 26 years later.
2000: Five Overtimes Drain Pittsburgh
Keith Primeau ended the modern era’s longest game after midnight struck.
Philadelphia trailed Pittsburgh two games to one in their 2000 semifinal series. Game 4 began at 7:38 PM on May 4 in Pittsburgh. The teams played through regulation and four complete overtime periods without scoring.
Primeau finally buried the winner at 12:01 of the fifth overtime after 152 minutes total. Players ate pizza and received IVs between periods to survive the marathon. The Flyers rallied to win the series in six games total.
2003: Anaheim Survives Dallas in Five Frames
The highest-scoring marathon game featured seven goals total.
Anaheim and Dallas combined for offensive fireworks in their 2003 semifinal opener. Unlike most overtime marathons, this game featured plenty of goals throughout. The teams traded chances for over 140 minutes of play.
Anaheim finally prevailed 4-3 after five overtime periods expired. The scoring made this marathon different from typical defensive battles. Both teams pushed offensive pressure despite the mounting fatigue and exhaustion.
2010: Philadelphia Stuns Boston in Game 7
The Flyers erased a three-goal deficit in the second period.
Boston led 3-0 entering the final period of their 2010 semifinal Game 7. Philadelphia mounted an incredible comeback, tying the game with minutes remaining. The stunned Bruins couldn’t recover their composure or momentum.
Simon Gagne scored the overtime winner to complete the miracle comeback. Boston fans watched in horror as their comfortable lead evaporated completely. The collapse remains one of the most painful losses in Bruins history.
2020: Bubble Hockey Creates Modern Marathon
Joonas Korpisalo made 85 saves in a losing effort against Tampa Bay.
Columbus and Tampa met in the COVID bubble playoffs of August 2020. The game stretched into five overtime periods before ending. Brayden Point finally solved Korpisalo with a shot under the crossbar.
The Finnish goalie stood on his head all night long. Tampa peppered him with 187 shot attempts during the marathon battle. The 146 combined saves set a modern NHL record for shots in one contest.
TL;DR
- The 1936 Red Wings and Maroons played for 176 minutes and 30 seconds total.
- Brett Hull’s 1999 Cup winner sparked the No Goal controversy in Buffalo.
- Keith Primeau scored in the fifth overtime to beat Pittsburgh in 2000.
- Pat LaFontaine ended the longest Game 7 ever in quadruple overtime.
- Joonas Korpisalo stopped 85 shots in a 2020 bubble playoff loss.
- These games prove overtime hockey creates the sport’s most lasting memories.
Read More:
- Greatest Goaltenders In NHL History
- Forgotten NHL Franchises and Their Lasting Influence
- How the NHL Winter Classic Became a Beloved Tradition
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
