The NHL Finals Overtime Games
When a Stanley Cup Final game goes to overtime, play continues at five-on-five in full 20-minute periods until a goal is scored. There is no shootout or set time limit, so games can extend well beyond regulation. This format has led to several series-shifting results, including goals that decide individual games or influence the total outcome of a series.
One such instance came in Game 1 of the 1990 Final between Edmonton and Boston. Petr Klima scored 15 minutes and 13 seconds into the third overtime, giving the Oilers a 3-2 win after 55 minutes of extra play. The game also included a 26-minute delay caused by a power outage. Next, we talk about how overtime works in the Final and revisit games where a single goal made a big impact.
NHL Finals Overtime Rules
Playoff overtime works very differently from regular-season overtime. When a Stanley Cup Final game is tied after 60 minutes, the teams begin another full 20-minute period at five-on-five.
Under the NHL Finals overtime rules, play follows a sudden-death format, which means the first goal ends the game immediately. When neither side scores, another full period begins after the intermission, with the same process continuing until a winner is decided.
- A tie after regulation leads to a full 20-minute overtime period
- Each overtime is played at five-on-five unless a penalty changes the number of skaters
- The first goal scored ends the game immediately
- Shootouts are not used, so full overtime periods continue until one team scores
This format allows Stanley Cup Final games to continue without a fixed time limit. As the extra periods build, fatigue can affect skating speed or decision-making. Coaches may shorten their benches while goaltenders face growing pressure with every shot. Some of the longest games in NHL history have taken place during the playoffs, where one late goal can decide a game or even secure the championship.
1970 Game 4: Bruins vs Blues
Boston entered Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final holding a 3-0 series lead over St. Louis. The Blues forced overtime after regulation ended 3-3, giving them one final chance to extend the series. Under the NHL Finals overtime rules, the next goal would end both the game and the championship. Only 40 seconds later, Bobby Orr beat Glenn Hall to secure a 4-3 Boston victory.
The goal gave the Bruins their first Stanley Cup since 1941, ending a 29-year wait. As Orr moved across the crease, St. Louis defenceman Noel Picard sent him into the air just after the shot. Photographer Ray Lussier captured the moment, creating one of hockey’s best-known images. Game 4 remains memorable because one quick overtime goal closed out the series and gave it an unforgettable finish.
1999 Game 6: Stars vs Sabres
More than five periods of tense hockey turned Game 6 into one of the longest Cup-clinching contests in Stanley Cup Final history. Jere Lehtinen scored for the Stars before Stu Barnes answered for the Sabres in the second period. Neither side scored during the first two overtime periods, so the game continued deep into a third. Although it was not the longest overtime in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history, few championship games have demanded more patience from the players.
At 14:51 of the third overtime, Brett Hull scored to give Dallas a 2-1 victory and its first championship. Buffalo disputed the goal because Hull’s skate was inside the crease, which turned the finish into one of the era’s most debated decisions. The officials allowed the goal under the possession interpretation used at the time. That ending gave Game 6 an everlasting place in NHL history for both its length and the controversy surrounding the winner.
2010 Game 6: Blackhawks vs Flyers
Chicago started Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final with a 3-2 series lead over Philadelphia. The Flyers forced overtime after Scott Hartnell tied the game 3-3 with 3:59 remaining in the third period. Under the NHL Finals overtime rules, the next goal would decide both the game and the championship. Patrick Kane scored 4:06 into the extra period, beating Michael Leighton from a sharp angle for a 4-3 victory.
The puck lodged in the padding inside the net, which delayed the reaction because almost nobody saw it cross the line. Kane began celebrating before most players realized the game had ended. The goal gave Chicago its first Stanley Cup since 1961, ending a 49-year wait. Game 6 is remembered for its sudden finish and the confusion that followed the winning shot.
1993 Game 2: Canadiens vs Kings
A late equipment challenge completely changed Game 2 when Montreal requested a measurement of Marty McSorley’s stick. Montreal challenged Marty McSorley’s stick with 1:45 remaining, and officials ruled its curve illegal. Eric Desjardins scored on the resulting power play with 1:13 left to force overtime. Although it was not the longest overtime in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history, the game changed almost immediately after regulation.
Desjardins scored 51 seconds into overtime, completing a hat trick while giving Montreal a 3-2 win. The result tied the series at 1-1 rather than giving Montreal a 2-0 lead. The Canadiens then won the next three games to secure their 24th Stanley Cup. Game 2 stands out because one late penalty turned a likely defeat into a victory that made the series exciting.
1951 Game 5: Maple Leafs vs Canadiens
With the Stanley Cup waiting to be claimed, Game 5 remained tied after regulation and moved into sudden-death overtime. Under the NHL Finals overtime rules, the next goal would either extend the series or award the Stanley Cup. Bill Barilko ended the contest 2:53 into overtime with a backhand shot that secured a 3-2 victory. The defenceman delivered the fourth championship of his career while closing the series in five games.
That goal later gained a tragic place in club history because it became Barilko’s final NHL goal. He disappeared during a fishing trip later that summer, and the wreckage of his plane was not found until 1962. The discovery came during the same year that the Maple Leafs finally won another Stanley Cup. Game 5 remains closely linked to one of the most famous goals in franchise history.
1980 Game 6: Islanders vs Flyers
A 3-2 series advantage placed the Islanders one win from their first Stanley Cup, but regulation ended in a 4-4 tie. Although far from the longest overtime in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history, the extra period carried enormous pressure for both sides. Bob Nystrom redirected John Tonelli’s pass into the net at 7:11 of overtime to secure a 5-4 victory. The goal delivered the franchise's first championship.
That finish became one of the most crucial moments in the rise of the Islanders. An earlier missed offside call also remained a source of frustration for the Flyers after the loss. Nystrom’s winner began a run of four consecutive Stanley Cup championships. Game 6 is remembered as the night an emerging contender became an NHL champion.
1990 Game 1: Oilers vs Bruins
The opening game of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final became a marathon that stretched deep into a third overtime. Neither side scored during the first two extra periods, even as Boston kept applying pressure. Petr Klima finally ended the contest at 15:13 of the third overtime with a shot that gave Edmonton a 3-2 victory. That finish made the game the longest overtime in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history.
Klima’s winner arrived after 115 minutes and 13 seconds of total playing time (55:13 of overtime), giving the Oilers an early series advantage. Bill Ranford kept the score level through repeated Boston attacks before his team found the decisive goal. Edmonton later won the championship in five games, while Ranford earned the Conn Smythe Trophy. To this day, Game 1 remains remembered for its exhausting length and the unlikely player who settled it.