We’re down to one or two games left in one of the best Stanley Cup Final series in recent memory, if not of all time. And it’s possible no game will be more memorable than Saturday night’s Game 3, which featured a record-breaking hat trick, a penalty shot, two waved-off goals, one of the greatest third-period comebacks in playoff history and two periods of overtime.
And then … it ended like this:
Yeah, that’s not ideal. But it’s also not rare, because a surprising number of legendary hockey games have ended with a goal that was … iffy. Or questionable. Or downright terrible.
Today, we’re going to celebrate some of those great games and the ugly goals that decided them as we search for the game that scores highest in both categories.
A few ground rules:
• We can play with what it means to “decide” a game a little bit; these don’t all have to be OT winners, or even necessarily goals late in regulation. But we’re not looking for a bad first goal in a 6-5 final either.
• That said, the goal has to be the key moment in the game, not just one bad goal that’s memorable for being bad. That takes out options such as Martin Brodeur’s stick flub in 2003 (which came in the second period of a game that went to overtime), Owen Nolan’s long bomb on Roman Turek (which came at the end of the first) and Chris Phillips scoring a Cup-winner into his own net (which was the fourth goal in a 6-2 final).
• More importantly, the bad goal itself can’t be the main reason the game is memorable. This takes out examples like Dan Boyle’s overtime oopsie, or the Tommy Salo debacle. If we don’t remember anything else that happened in the game, it’s out. Also, I’m disqualifying the Kevin Bieksa stanchion goal because it was actually incredibly cool.
Hockey being what it is, we still have plenty of awful goals to choose from. I’ve come up with 10, but feel free to hop into the comments with any nominations of your own.
Stephane Matteau, Rangers vs. Devils, 1994
The setup: The Rangers were a team of destiny, looking to end a 54-year Cup drought. The Devils were the young upstarts, looking to ride their young goalie to an upset over the crosstown rivals. A series that was very good ascended to legendary status with Mark Messier’s guarantee and subsequent Game 6 hat trick, setting the stage for an immortal Game 7 at MSG.
How great was the game? Pretty great. It was a scoreless nail-biter until Brian Leetch opened the scoring midway through the second. It stayed that way all through regulation, and it looked like Mike Richter would outduel Martin Brodeur in a 1-0 win. But then Valeri Zelepukin scored with just eight seconds left, tying the game and sending us to sudden death.
How bad was the goal? Bad enough that right now you can hear the famous call of “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” but you’re realizing you can’t really picture the goal itself all that well. Seriously, this clip from the MSG Network cracks me up — it’s five minutes of build, with dramatic music and slow-motion shots and players solemnly breaking down every moment leading to the goal, and then it uses the worst possible angle, full speed and just once.
Basically, it’s a fluky wraparound goal that sure looks like it was supposed to be a centering pass that bounced off Scott Niedermayer.
The case against: Matteau tries really hard in that MSG Network clip to make it sound like he did that on purpose. I don’t believe him, but you might be a more charitable soul than I am.
Bottom line: We’ve got a very strong contender right out of the gate. But let’s see what else we can come up with.
Bobby Orr scores the winning goal for the Stanley Cup against the St. Louis Blues at Boston Garden in Boston on May 10, 1970. (Frank O’Brien / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Bobby Orr, Bruins vs. Blues, 1970
The setup: The Blues were in the final for the third straight year, this time facing the Bruins. For the third straight year, the series was headed to a sweep, with Boston outscoring St. Louis 16-4 through three contests heading into Game 4.
How great was the game? Not all that great, but it did go to overtime. Cup-winning goals in overtime are relatively rare; they’d happened just nine times before this one, and just seven times since.
How bad was the goal? Well, which one — the version you’ve always heard about, where Orr is flying through the air as he scores the Cup winner? Or the real one, where a quick give-and-go and a missed poke check by Glenn Hall lead to an easy tap-in by Orr, who has both feet firmly planted on the ice as he scores?
The case against: The photo of Orr being tripped by Noel Picard after the goal has become one of history’s most famous, and like Matteau, the announcer yelling “Orr! Orr!” helps sell the drama.
Bottom line: This might be the most overrated goal in hockey history, as I’ve argued before. But as far as ugly goals go, there have been worse.
Uwe Krupp, Avalanche vs. Panthers, 1996
The setup: This was basically the Orr goal for the modern age, as a powerhouse with a 3-0 series lead looked to finish off a third-year expansion upstart. In this case, it was the Colorado Avalanche of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy facing the Florida Panthers of John Vanbiesbrouck and, uh … I think Brian Skrudland was on that team?
How great was the game? It was scoreless through five periods, with all the excitement that implies.
How bad was the goal? After roughly 104 minutes of tension, the winner finally came on a harmless-looking point shot that found its way in through a screen.
The case against: At the time, this was the latest OT Cup winner ever scored. And you could argue it doesn’t really meet our “memorable” criteria since barely anyone remembers watching it live in the middle of the night.
Bottom line: Is it weird that Patrick Roy had a 63-save triple-OT shutout in a Cup-clinching game and it’s barely ever mentioned as a key piece of his legacy? Anyway, if you’re a big fan of his, I suggest you stop reading right about now, because …
Brendan Shanahan, Red Wings vs. Avalanche, 2002
The setup: The Wings and Avs are renewing their rivalry, this time in the conference final. And with the upstart Hurricanes having already won the East, let’s face it, this is basically for the Cup. With the Red Wings trailing the series 3-2, they’ve got to go into Colorado and find a way to stay alive.
How great was the game? It’s Patrick Roy vs. Dominik Hasek in a Wings/Avs rivalry game with a championship (sort of) on the line. You kids out there think you know what intense feels like, but if you’re too young for this matchup, then I’m not sure you do.
And with the score tied 0-0 and the tension building, Brendan Shanahan is the one who gets what would turn out to be the winning goal.
How bad was the goal? Hilariously bad. With an emphasis on the hilarious.
The case against: Timing. While this goal is definitely bad enough to make a case for top spot, and was the winner in a 2-0 game, it came late in the first period of Game 6. Put this near the end of a Game 7 instead and you’ve got your winner.
Bottom line: The guy who scores, the guy who gets scored on, both guys who get assists, the other forward on that line, and the guy who fishes the puck out of the net were all Hall of Famers. And that’s just the guys who feature prominently in that one-minute clip. We’ll never get another rivalry like Wings/Avs.
Jamie Baker, Sharks vs. Red Wings, 1994
The setup: The Red Wings had been knocking on Lord Stanley’s door for a few years, but had been playoff disappointments. The Sharks were in their third year and had been historically bad in the first two, so it was considered a near-miracle that they’d even made the playoffs. But with everyone predicting an easy sweep for Detroit, the Sharks shocked the world by forcing a Game 7 at the Joe.
How great was the game? Pretty great. I remember watching this one live and being on the edge of my seat as the Sharks just refused to go away. They jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, only for the Wings to fight back and tie it in the second. With Detroit dominating possession, it felt like only a matter of time before they’d take the lead. But it never happened, and late in the third, Jamie Baker’s goal put them back in front to stay, cementing one of the greatest upsets in playoff history.
How bad was the goal? Very bad indeed. With seven minutes left, rookie Wings goalie Chris Osgood misplayed the puck out to Baker, whose one-timer found an empty net.
The case against: This was only the first round, so the game itself wasn’t as important as most of the others on this list. But for pure entertainment, this one’s tough to beat.
Bottom line: I miss when replays used to have a giant “REVERSE ANGLE” notice on them, just in case viewers thought the two teams had switched uniforms.
OK, enough stalling by me, let’s do this …
Wayne Gretzky, Kings vs. Maple Leafs, 1993
The setup: The Leafs and Kings are facing off in Game 7 of the 1993 Campbell Conference final. The series has already been a classic, and the last two games have gone into overtime. There may have been a controversial missed call in there somewhere too, he said, grinding his teeth into little stumps. Now it’s winner-takes-all at Maple Leaf Gardens on a Saturday night, and the only thing standing between a Leafs/Habs final is the greatest player to ever lace up skates.
How great was the game? Awful, thanks for asking. But sure, if I were even pretending to be impartial, I’d have to admit it was a classic. The Kings get two in the first, the Leafs tie it in the second, the two teams go back and forth, and Wayne Gretzky scores three times in what he’d later call the greatest game of his life to lead the Kings to victory.
How bad was the goal?: With just over three minutes left, Gretzky scores the winning goal and … it’s this. A lucky bank shot from behind the net that goes off a Leafs defenseman’s skate.
The case against: It’s twofold. First, while that was indeed the winning goal, it actually made the score 5-3 at the time; it was Mike Donnelly who put the Kings ahead to stay a minute before, with a late Leafs goal transferring winner status to Gretzky.
But beyond that … I mean, we all kind of think Gretzky did that on purpose, right? Sure, we do. This is like the Mario Lemieux between-the-legs goal in 2002 — you’d call it a fluke for anyone else, but when it’s an all-time great, you can absolutely believe it was intentional.
Bottom line: It’s fine. I’m fine. Let’s keep moving.
Brett Hull, Stars vs. Sabres, 1999
The setup: The 1999 final featured two franchises chasing their first Stanley Cup after decades of trying. It was a battle between Hall-of-Fame goaltenders; all the games had been close, and now the Cup was in the building for Game 6 in Buffalo, with the Sabres looking to stay alive.
How great was the game? The two teams traded goals through two periods, and we headed to a sudden-death period. And then another. And then, somehow, a third, with Eddie Belfour and Dominik Hasek combining for 101 saves. There would not be a 102nd.
How bad was the goal? We all know the controversy around this goal and whether Hull’s skate was in the crease. It was such a mess that it did the near-impossible, and got Gary Bettman and then the NHL to admit a mistake and get rid of a dumb rule.
But even if you put all that aside, it’s just not a very good goal. There’s a scramble in the faceoff circle, the puck comes to Hull all alone in front, a Sabres defender apparently decides it’s a good time to try a Scott Stevens open-ice hit on the Invisible Man, and Hull gets a few whacks while Hasek lies there.
The case against: “Brett Hull scores the latest Cup-winner ever against Dominik Hasek” is admittedly pretty cool.
Bottom line: Imagine the Stanley Cup Final being ruined by a replay controversy. Sure glad we learned our lesson and didn’t create a whole system where that happening again is inevitable.
Paul Henderson, Team Canada vs. Team USSR, 1972
The setup: Hey, we did say hockey history, not just NHL history.
Way back in 1972, we’d never seen best-on-best international hockey. There’d never been a place for it. So we weren’t sure what would happen when the favored Canadians faced the mysterious Soviets.
How great was the game? Not just the game itself, but the entire eight-game series was a masterpiece. It started with the Soviets stunning the world by holding Canada to just one win in four games on home ice. After another Soviet win in Game 5, the Canadians were left needing to win three straight to take the series. They took care of business in the first two, leading to a winner-take-all final game. With the score deadlocked late and the Soviets preparing to claim victory in the series if the final game ended in a tie, the stage was set for one of the most famous goals in history.
How bad was the goal?: I mean … it’s fine? But it’s certainly no beauty. Henderson gets tripped and blows a tire, spinning out of the play. Two Soviets basically bump into each other, turning an easy clear into a Keystone Kops-style giveaway. A weak shot leads to a fat rebound, which Henderson is alone to poke home because everyone forgot about him after he bulldozed the end boards with his face.
The case against: We’re looking for a terrible goal to end an amazing game. Nobody’s going to beat this one in the latter category, but the goal itself isn’t as bad as some of the others.
Bottom line: A worthy end to an all-time classic? Not really, but nobody was too worried about style points back then.
Steve Smith Perry Berezan, Flames vs. Oilers, 1986
The setup: By 1986, the Oilers and Flames had already established one of the greatest rivalries in the sport. But it had been a one-sided one, with the Oilers winning both head-to-head series on their way to three straight finals and two Cups. Now they were facing off again in the Smythe final, with Flames feeling like the only team with a real chance to stop the three-peat. The series went seven, because of course it went seven.
How great was the game? The Flames stunned the Edmonton crowd by taking a 2-0 lead, but the Oilers fought back to tie it late in the second. That set the stage for a third period where it very much felt like next goal wins.
How bad was the goal? Almost painfully bad. Seriously, this made me cry as a kid because I felt so bad for Smith.
The case against: The only argument I can make here is that, unlike the way we all remember it, this goal actually came with 15 minutes still left in the game. I’d always thought it came in the final minutes, and I’ve even met people who swear it was in overtime. Instead, it was early enough in the third that the Oilers had plenty of time to bail Smith out. Alas.
Bottom line: Given that this was the only series the Oilers lost over a five-year period, this one might take the lead from the Matteau goal.
And finally …
Shea Theodore, Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes, 2026
The setup: Remember last week? Sure you do.
How great was the game? Not so great for the first two periods, admittedly. But that was just the hockey gods setting the stage for pure bedlam.
How bad was the goal? Almost inexcusably bad. I don’t mean that in the sense that it was anyone’s fault, because it wasn’t. It was a fluke, the sort of weird hockey play that can happen anywhere at any time. It just happened to come in one of the wildest Stanley Cup Final games we’ve ever seen.
The case against: The game itself was so wild that there’s a case to be made that a fluky, ugly goal was the absolute right way for it to end. Beyond that, we still have to see how the final plays to really know how to rank this one. If the Hurricanes come back to win, then this game will have been a dramatic bump in the road. But if Vegas wins, especially if it’s in seven, this will have been the goal that decided a Stanley Cup.
Bottom line: It’s in the running for sure. Beyond that, to be determined …
