NHL: 30 best series winning goals in NHL Playoffs history

NHL: 30 best series-winning goals in NHL playoff history:
20. Pat Lafontaine beats the Capitals

This one doesn’t get as much love because a. it was a first-round series and b. the winner got knocked out in the next round. However, a Game 7 going to four overtimes is one of the most exciting things that can happen in a playoff series. Imagine going a full 68 minutes where neither team could score.

Kelly Hrudey made 73 saves for the New York Islanders and Bob Mason made 54 saves for the Washington Capitals. These two goalies were carrying their teams through every overtime period. The Capitals threw the kitchen sink at Hrudey, but he was ready for everything.

Then came overtime number four. Remember, this was Game 7. The next goal sent one team home and moved another team in the playoffs. This was about living on in the hallows of the NHL history books. This eventually got the nickname the “Easter Epic”. It got that name because it started on Saturday night, but the game didn’t end until Easter morning. There were some angry families in the D.C. area when Capitals fans no longer wanted to spend time doing Easter activities.

Now to the goal. Noted defensive defenseman Gord Dineen took the puck behind the net. Bryan Trottier said in an interview that he “never seen Gord Dineen ever go that deep in the zone in his life.” He shot the puck towards the net, and it ricocheted off a defender, and it went right to Pat Lafontaine. He spun around, wound up, and shot the puck at the near post. He hit in and it went right in. The longest Game 7 in history was over. The home team lost. The New York Islanders were still holding on to some of their dynasty dreams. It was one game that will go down in history.