When talking about the history of hockey in terms of the most epic NHL games of all time, one must claim that there were quite a few of them. And many elements could make a game memorable, from incidents, outstanding performance, lucky moments, and so much more. However, choosing the top out of so many great NHL matches will be hard. But still, here are some of the NHL games hockey fans will love remembering. Take a look.
Stanley Cup Final 2009, Game 7: Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh PenguinsThis game that happened on June 7th, 2009, was probably one of the most epic NHL games of all time. The Penguins were the first hockey team to win Game 7 of the final since the Montreal Canadiens. After this event, one of the Penguins’ players, Evgeni Malkin, became an MVP and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009 as the most valuable player during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Besides, Malkin was the first Russian-born hockey player to get this award.
The game was interesting, packed with action and everyone remembers when Max Talbot scored two goals in the second period that secured the victory. And when the Pittsburgh Penguins fans were confident that everything is settled and that they will celebrate, Nicklas Lidstrom had a surge of energy and thirst for victory in the last minutes. Still, goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury was ready for Kirk Maltby’s point-blank range shot with all his effort.
At the beginning of this game, the luck was on the side of the Penguins, as Marian Hossa and Adam Hall scored one goal each in the first period. On the other hand, the second period was when the Red Wings got back on their feet as Rafalski, Datsyuk, and Helm scored goals. Then, when the Detroit fans thought the victory was inevitable and that they won their bets placed on websites reviewed at Realcasinoscanada, Maxime Talbot scored a goal in the last seconds, which led to overtime. The first and second periods of overtime were without any goals when Petr Sykora scored a goal in the third that brought Penguins victory.
Winter Classic 2008: Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh PenguinsAnd since we are mentioning the Pittsburgh Penguins, their 2008 Winter Classic, or better said, “Ice Bowl,” was a spectacle that deserves to be on this list. Even if the playing conditions were challenging due to icy snow, the players managed to get 62 shots over three periods. Sidney Crosby from the Penguins managed to bring the victory to his teams in the end, even if the Buffalo Sabres were leading the majority of the game. This was also the first author ice hockey game to be played in the US.
Semi-Final 2003, Game 1: Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas StarsThe famous semi-final between the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars is also one of the most memorable NHL events. This event that happened on April 24th, 2003, lasted for 140 minutes, and it included four overtimes. Near the end of the game and into the fifth overtime, Anaheim’s Petr Sykora managed to score points for Anaheim Ducks. This semi-final was the fourth-longest NHL playoff ever and finished with 4-3 in favor of the Ducks. The Ducks player Jean Giguere had 63 saves while the Stars keeper Marty Turco and 54.
Stanley Cup Final 2004, Game 6: Calgary vs. Tampa BayAnd if you remember the controversial goal by Martin Gelinas, you probably remember this game. The goal changed the course of the game in favor of Calgary. Since the puck hit the Gelinas’ skate, some saw this goal as disallowed. However, even though the CGI company declared the goal legitimate, ABC television couldn’t agree. According to their analysis, the puck never crossed the line completely. Still, nothing was done to resolve the situation. After the second period, the score was 2-2, before they went into overtime. Finally, when Martin St. Louis scored a goal that gave Tampa victory, Calgary’s plan of winning Game 6 fell through.
