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NHL: 30 best series winning goals in NHL Playoffs history

By Nick Villano

St. Louis Blues left wing Pat Maroon (7) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the game winning goal in double overtime in game seven of the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Blues left wing Pat Maroon (7) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the game winning goal in double overtime in game seven of the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Antti Niemi
Antti Niemi (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

NHL: 30 best series-winning goals in NHL playoff history:
16. Kevin Bieksa beats the Sharks

This might have been a Game 5, but this had two haunted franchises in the Canucks and Sharks fighting to get to the Stanley Cup Final, and the Canucks had the chance to put the Sharks away. However, the Sharks took the lead and held it all the way until there were 15 seconds left in the game. It seemed like a Game 6 back in San Jose was inevitable. Only, Ryan Kesler wanted a break before seeing the Bruins.

Kesler scored with 14 seconds left in the game to tie it up. He won the faceoff, kept changing his position, then found a spot in front of Antti Niemi, and tipped a Henrik Sedin shot down through the five hole and in the back of the net.

The Sharks were on the ropes, as all those previous playoff failures bubbled to the surface, but it wasn’t time to give up. It was anyone’s ballgame (or hockey game) in overtime. Nobody was able to score in overtime number one, so overtime number two would be the place these two would finally settle their differences, and it was Vancouver who would be celebrating.

Wait…. what just happened? The puck looks like it goes out of play, but actually it hit a stantion and went directly to Kevin Bieksa’s stick. Niemi didn’t even know the play was still going on. The Sharks defenders looked like their controller got disconnected. And Bieksa took advantage. His slap shot from the point just needed to keep from going wide and it would send the Canucks to the Final.

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