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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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Quebec Nordiques
Peter Stastny – Quebec Nordiques. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

NHL: 30 best series-winning goals in NHL playoff history:
26. Peter Stastny beats the Canadiens

What more could one ask for in a matchup? It was a battle of Quebec with the Nordiques taking on the Canadiens. It was the high-scoring time that was the mid-80s. It was Game 7 and none of the other second-round series went to seven games, so every hockey fan’s eyes were on this game. These two teams were one-two in the Adams Division. A Hall of Famer took the puck on his stick in overtime, and it was a grand story.

This was an important series for the Nordiques. They faced off in the second round in 1984, and the Canadiens beat them in six. It was time for payback.

The series was a barn burner. They traded wins from Game 1 to Game 7, and the away team won every game from Game 4 to Game 7. There was so much craziness in this series, and the final game was going back in front of those raucous Montreal fans. It’s going to be a fun one to figure out the winner.

Quebec took a 2-0 lead in Game 7, but Montreal would not die. Two second-period goals, including Mats Naslund’s seventh of the postseason, tied the game. After a scoreless third period, the game went into overtime. Here we are again. Then, Peter Stastny stepped up and sent the Canadiens packing.

Stastny got a little lucky there, but as they say, it’s better to be lucky than good. Canadiens goalie Steve Penney tried to grab the puck with his glove, but he actually threw it over his head and right back to Stastny. It led to an easy goal, and it was a play that directly led to the end of the Canadiens season. Penney lost his position as starter next season, he would end up going to Winnipeg the season after. The Nordiques didn’t win it all, but this moment might be the best in their short-lived history.

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