NHL: 30 best series winning goals in NHL Playoffs history

NHL: 30 best series-winning goals in NHL playoff history:
18. Uwe Krupp beats the Panthers

The Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers had amazing stories on their way to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. Colorado was a really good team until they traded for Patrick Roy. That made them a great team. They ran through the Pacific Division, but there were some awesome teams lurking in the playoffs. Detroit looked like a sure bet to make the Western Conference Finals. Pittsburgh seemed like the favorites out East, but a trendy team from South Florida found motivation in a rat.

The Red Wings and Penguins both made the conference finals, but neither made it out. The Avs and Panthers showed to be the better team when it matters most, and that set up a matchup in the Stanley Cup Final.

This isn’t on the list because it was part of an epic series. However, this game was one of the greatest defensive matchups paired with phenomenal goalie performances of all time. Patrick Roy and John Vanbiesbrouck went 104 minutes without allowing a goal in Game 4. The Avs were looking to win the Stanley Cup in the first year since relocating from Quebec. The Panthers were looking to establish hockey in a tropical climate. Something was going to give, and it came off the stick of an unlikely hero.

That right there shows the importance of clearing the puck. The Panthers failed twice to clear the puck, and Krupp took a shot from the blue line that found its way past Vanbiesbrouck. The Avalanche were Stanley Cup Champs after sweeping the Panthers. Who knows what happens if the Panthers win that game. The Avs would be tired, the fanbase would tell their children about attending that game, and the fanbase might be more raucous in South Florida today. Instead, Colorado is a booming hockey market, and Florida is usually considered a future relocation target.