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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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New York Rangers
The New York Rangers celebrate: (Mike Powell /Allsport) /

NHL: 30 best series-winning goals in NHL playoff history:
2. Stephane Matteau beats the Devils

Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!

While the Mark Messier guarantee and ensuing hat trick might get most of the headlines from the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, the goal by Stephane Matteau made it actually matter. After Messier’s heroics, the Rangers still needed to win Game 7 in Madison Square Garden. It looked like Mike Richter was going to win via the shutout as he kept the Devils off the board for 59 minutes and 52 seconds. Unfortunately for him, every second matters in a hockey game.

Valeri Zelepukin scored the game-tying goal with eight seconds left in the game. Richter wanted a whistle, but he didn’t get it and the game was tied. Game 7 was going into overtime, and it was literally winner take all.

In the first overtime, both goalies took over. Brodeur and Richter were sensational, and we needed double overtime to find a winner. There, Matteau makes an innocent-looking play that eventually turned into history.

Matteau sweeps behind the net as Scott Niedermayer is hooking him. The play started with a failed clearing attempted, and Matteau just got the jump on Niedermayer in the race to get the puck in the corner. He got behind the net, spun around, and threw it in the one spot that Brodeur couldn’t stop it. It hit off the back of his blocker and into the net. Matteau. Matteau. Matteau. The Rangers would eventually go and win the Final, lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 years.

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