NHL: 30 best series winning goals in NHL Playoffs history
By Nick Villano
NHL: 30 best series-winning goals in NHL playoff history:
7. Pat Maroon beats the Stars
There was so much about the St. Louis Blues run in 2019 that was magical, but arguably nothing tops what happened in Game 7 of their second-round series with the Dallas Stars. Pat Maroon was offered more money and term from some teams in free agency, including the team he was leaving the New Jersey Devils. He so desperately wanted to play at home near his kid for one season, he took a $1.75 million contract for one season. It only made sense that he would be a hero on their run to the Stanley Cup Championship.
Game 7 was just a fight to gain ground. After both teams scored in the first period, the second period came and went with no goals. The third period, the same thing. Now we’re in overtime, but there were no goals in the first 20 minutes. Now, it’s double overtime. It has now been around one hour and ten minutes since the last goal.
There were some incredibly close calls. However, it wasn’t until 5:50 into the second overtime that Robert Thomas shot the puck on Ben Bishop. The puck floated over Bishop’s head, and Maroon skated past everyone and put the puck in the net.
Maroon was now a St. Louis hero. Jordan Binningington was a St. Louis hero. This team that was famously in last place in the NHL as early as January was now on their way to a Stanley Cup Championship. They had so many chances to lose, but the team had too much behind them, and “Gloria” was bound to play throughout the arena.