10 best NHL Stanley Cup Playoff overtime goals of the 2010s

PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 02: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers scores a goal against Antti Niemi #31 of the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime to win the game 4-3 in Game Three of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Wachovia Center on June 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

6 of 10

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 25: The Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after Chris Kunitz #14 scored the game winning goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators in the second overtime with a score of 3 to 2 in Game Seven to win the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

5. Chris Kunitz – 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7

The goal that ruined that Ottawa Senators.

When placed in that context, this goal feels like it was light-years ago. It’s almost hard to envision that just three seasons ago, the Senators were one goal away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final. The very same Senators that are now toiling in the basement of the league and are stuck in perennial “sell” mode. Is Chris Kunitz really the cause of this? No. But this goal certainly cast some bad mojo over this team.

On the Penguins side of things, Kunitz’s goal helped reaffirm Pittsburgh’s place as kings of the East. It sent them to their second Cup in as many years and re-established the Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin core as one of the most imposing in hockey.

A double-overtime dagger, Kunitz’s one-timer is a masterclass in anticipation. Crosby circling with the puck, dishing it off to Kunitz who already had his stick cocked, the blast to the back of the net and then an eruption of celebration. The whole play lasts a couple seconds, but to fans in Ottawa and Pittsburgh, it probably felt like an eternity.

This play sent the two clubs in opposite directions, with the Penguins securing back-to-back titles and the Sens going into meltdown mode. One goal, two different stories.

Home/NHL