The ’12 Days of Christmas’ is a classic holiday song first published in its current form in 1908. In a nod to the classic carol, join The Hockey Writers as we count down the 12 Days of Hockeymas. Each day, we will provide you with a piece of hockey history as we eagerly await the start of the 2020-21 NHL season.
Overtime (OT) winners are among the most memorable goals, especially when they come in the playoffs. On the fourth day of Hockeymas, we take a look back at the four Canucks who have scored multiple postseason overtime goals.
Alex Burrows
Alex Burrows has scored three playoff overtime goals, tied with Greg Adams for the most in franchise history, throughout his 14-year career. Burrows made a career by scoring big goals, and his OT winners have been the most memorable of them all.
2009 First Round Vs. St. Louis Blues
Burrows’ first overtime winner completed the sweep against the St Louis Blues in Game 4 in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had a breakout season in 2008-09, as he posted 28 goals and 51 points and capped it off with a series-ending goal in OT.
The Canucks entered Game 4 with a 3-0 series lead. With the game tied at two goals apiece, Burrows scored the game-winner 19:41 minutes into overtime, sending the Canucks to the second round.
2011 First Round Vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Burrows scored his second playoff overtime goal in Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canucks blew a 3-0 lead and allowed the defending Stanley Cup champions to fight back and force a Game 7. Jonathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal with a little over a minute left in regulation to tie Game 7 up and send it to OT.
Burrows served two minutes for hooking early in overtime, which the Canucks managed to kill. The forward scored the game-winner 5:22 into OT. His overtime winner against the Blackhawks is the most important because it validated the 2010-11 Canucks as the best team in franchise history.
2011 Stanley Cup Final Vs. Boston Bruins
Burrows’ first-round overtime winner in 2011 led to a memorable Stanley Cup Final (SCF) run. The Canucks beat the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks before their third SCF appearance.
The Canucks took a 1-0 series lead against the Boston Bruins after a late goal from Raffi Torres in Game 1. In Game 2, Burrows scored 11 seconds into overtime to give the club a 2-0 lead over the Bruins. The Canucks were able to win Game 5 and take a 3-2 series lead, but lost in Game 7.
Greg Adams
Adams is the other player with three overtime winners in Canucks history. He spent eight of 17 years in the NHL with the Canucks and finished with 179 goals and 369 points in 489 games.
1993 First Round Vs. Winnipeg Jets
In the first round of the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Canucks took on the Winnipeg Jets. They had a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 but failed to put the Jets away in overtime. In Game 6, they had a shot at redemption as the two teams were tied 2-2.
Adams scored his first playoff overtime goal in Game 6 to help the Canucks advance to the second round. He scored a team-leading five goals in the first-round matchup, including his Game 6 winner.
1994 Western Conference Final Vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Adams scored his second overtime winner a season later against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along with Burrows’ Game 7 OT winner over the Blackhawks, Adams’ Game 5 winner in the Western Conference Final (WCF) is one of the biggest goals in Canucks history.
The Canucks were down 3-0 in Game 5 but scored three goals in the second period. Adams scored the third goal for the Canucks to tie the game up. It took Adams 14 seconds into the second overtime period to score the game-winner and send the Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup Final.
“Linden had the puck at the half boards and he gave it to Babych and he just got a shot on net. It wasn’t a real hard shot, but for some reason, Potvin had trouble controlling it and all I remember was I had to go to the net. I knew the puck was going to the net, Babych was always good at getting it on the net, so I was going to go to the net and for some reason, the puck came right out to me and I just backhanded it in.”
Adams said while breaking down his overtime winner.
1994 Stanley Cup Final Vs. New York Rangers
Adams followed up his WCF series winner with another overtime winner in Game 1 of the SCF. The Canucks faced off against the New York Rangers in a series that finished in Game 7.
The Canucks trailed 2-1 late in Game 1 before Martin Gelinas scored his fifth goal of the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the last minute of regulation to tie the game. Adams scored his third and final OT winner 19:26 minutes into the overtime period, which gave the Canucks a 1-0 series lead.
Cliff Ronning
Cliff Ronning scored two playoff overtime goals as a Canuck throughout his six seasons with the team and totaled 112 goals and 328 points in 366 games with the organization.
1991 First Round Vs. Los Angeles Kings
In 1991, the Canucks were tied at 1-1 against the Los Angeles Kings heading into Game 3. Ronning opened up the scoring in Game 3, as he scored a powerplay goal 41 seconds into the second period. Wayne Gretzky tied the score 11:53 into the third period, which sent the game to overtime.
Ronning gave the Canucks a 2-1 series lead 3:12 minutes into overtime. Although the Canucks held a 2-1 series lead, the Kings won after six games.
1995 First Round Vs. St. Louis Blues
Ronning’s second postseason overtime goal came against the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks and the Blues were tied 2-2 heading into Game 5. In a high scoring contest, He scored a powerplay goal in the third period to give the Canucks a 5-4 lead, but the Blues’ Murray Baron tied the game once again.
Ronning stepped up once again in Game 5, as he scored 1:48 into overtime, which is the fourth-fastest goal in franchise history. The Canucks took a 3-2 series lead and won the series in Game 7.
Henrik Sedin
Henrik Sedin leads the Canucks in points (1070) and assists (830). The Canucks’ 13th captain was not known for his goal-scoring ability, but he still managed to score two playoff overtime winners during his career.
2002 First Round Vs. Detroit Red Wings
The Canucks were the underdogs against the Red Wings as they entered the series as the eighth-seeded team. The Canucks were able to win Game 1 in Detroit, thanks to Henrik’s overtime winner. His first postseason game-winner came 13:59 into OT and was unassisted.
The Swedish forward’s first overtime winner was also his first playoff goal. The Canucks won Games 1 and 2 but lost four straight games to the eventual Stanley Cup champions.
2007 First Round Vs. Dallas Stars
Henrik’s second postseason overtime goal is another memorable goal in franchise history. In Game 1 of the first-round series against the Dallas Stars in 2007, he stepped up for the Canucks in OT.
The Canucks were up 4-2 early in the third period, but Antti Miettinen and Ladislav Nagy tied the score at 4-4. Henrik scored the game-winning goal 18:06 into the fourth overtime period. Game 1 lasted 78:06 minutes, which makes it the seventh-longest game in NHL history. The Canucks beat the Stars in seven games but lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.
Players Close to Multiple Playoff Overtime Winner
Bo Horvat is the only Canuck on the current roster with an overtime game-winner for the club. He scored his first playoff overtime goal against the Blues in Game 2 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The captain will have an opportunity to become the fifth Canuck to score multiple OT goals throughout his time with the club.
Sartaaj has been watching hockey for over 15 years and covers the Vancouver Canucks for The Hockey Writers.
