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Most Overtime Goals in NHL Playoff History

Joe Sakic scored eight playoff overtime goals, more than anyone in NHL history. Maurice Richard's overtime heroics built Canadiens dynasty. Patrick Kane's five OT goals include 2010 Cup clincher. Overtime goals are instant immortality, and the all-time playoff OT goals leaderboard is packed with big-game players. One shot ends everything in sudden death.

January 25, 2026

All-Time Playoff Overtime Goals Leaders

The players who delivered in sudden death:

#1. Joe Sakic: 8 Playoff Overtime Goals

Career:

8 OT goals (most all-time)
188 playoff points
Two Stanley Cups
Known for wrist shot and clutch performances

Signature Moments:

Multiple OT winners vs. Vancouver
OT goals vs. Detroit in playoff series
Game-deciding goals throughout Colorado's championship runs

The Clutch Master: Sakic's calm under pressure and elite shooting made him most dangerous OT player in NHL history.

Why It's Record: Eight OT goals in 172 playoff games shows consistency in highest-pressure situations. Record unlikely to be broken soon.

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#2. Maurice "Rocket" Richard: 6 Playoff Overtime Goals

Career:

6 OT goals
Eight Stanley Cups
Built Canadiens dynasty

1950s Dominance: Richard's OT goals sealed series for Montreal throughout dynasty era. Clutch scoring when elimination loomed.

Legacy: First major NHL OT goal scorer, establishing standard for playoff heroics.

#3 (Tie). Patrick Kane: 5 Playoff Overtime Goals

Career:

5 OT goals
Three Stanley Cups
Multiple OT winners including Cup clincher

2010 Cup Clincher: Scored Cup-winning goal in overtime (not always counted in "playoff OT goals" tables that separate Finals from earlier rounds).

2013 vs. Los Angeles: OT winner sent Chicago to Finals, showing clutch scoring throughout career.

Modern Clutch: Kane's OT production established him as modern era's most dangerous sudden-death scorer.

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#3 (Tie). Corey Perry: 5 Playoff Overtime Goals

Career:

5 OT goals
Stanley Cup champion (2007)
Hart Trophy winner (2011)

Anaheim Success: Multiple OT winners during Ducks' championship era and subsequent playoff runs.

#3 (Tie). Glenn Anderson: 5 Playoff Overtime Goals

Career:

5 OT goals
Six Stanley Cups
Oilers dynasty contributor

Dynasty Era: Anderson's OT goals throughout 1980s helped Edmonton win five Cups in seven years.

Other Notable Overtime Scorers

Players with multiple sudden-death goals:

Jaromir Jagr: Multiple OT goals across 20+ year career, including crucial winners for Pittsburgh in early 1990s Cup runs against New Jersey and Washington.

Wayne Gretzky: Despite 122 career playoff goals, Gretzky had fewer OT winners than expected. More known for assists in sudden death.

Stephane Richer: Multiple OT goals for Montreal and New Jersey, clutch contributor despite not being superstar.

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Series-Deciding vs. All Overtime Goals

Important distinction in counting:

All Overtime Goals: Counts every goal scored in overtime during playoffs, regardless of whether it ended series.

Series-Deciding Goals: Only counts OT goals that clinched series victories, eliminating opponents.

Database Differences: Some statistics track only series-deciding goals while others count all OT winners. This article uses all playoff OT goals.

Sakic's Record: Eight OT goals includes both series-clinching and non-clinching sudden-death winners.

Modern Era Overtime Scorers

Recent players adding to totals:

Brad Marchand: Multiple OT goals for Boston including crucial 2011 playoff run goals.

Brayden Point: Tampa Bay's OT specialist with multiple sudden-death winners during 2020-2021 championship runs.

Nathan MacKinnon: Colorado's superstar with OT goals throughout 2022 Cup run.

Modern high-scoring era creates more overtime games, potentially allowing current players to challenge all-time records.

The Cup-Clinching Overtime Goals

Goals that ended championship series:

Bobby Orr (1970): 40 seconds into OT, swept St. Louis, most iconic photo in hockey.

Patrick Kane (2010): Sneaky shot only he realized went in, ended Chicago's 49-year drought.

Alec Martinez (2014): Double overtime winner clinched LA's second Cup in three years.

Brett Hull (1999): Controversial triple-OT winner gave Dallas first Cup.

Cup-clinching OT goals create hockey immortality, transcending regular sudden-death winners.

Overtime Goal Rates

How often players score in sudden death:

Elite Efficiency:

Joe Sakic: 8 OT goals in 172 games (4.7% of games)
Maurice Richard: 6 OT goals in 133 games (4.5% of games)

League Average: Approximately 2-3% of playoff games end with specific player scoring OT winner.

Sample Size: Even all-time leader (Sakic) has "only" eight in 172 playoff games, showing rarity of playoff OT goals.

Betting and Prop Implications

How OT goal history affects wagering:

"To Score in OT" Props: Books price these props based on players with high-volume clutch scoring histories.

Historical Leaders: Players like Sakic, Richard, Kane command attention in OT prop markets despite rarity of scoring.

Value Bets: Even all-time leader scored OT goal in just 4.7% of playoff games, making "anytime OT scorer" props generally overpriced.

Elite Shooters: Players with elite shot quality (Ovechkin, Matthews, McDavid) get shorter OT scoring odds despite limited OT goal history.

The Clutch Factor

What makes great OT scorers:

Composure: Sakic's calm demeanor under pressure allowed elite shooting in sudden death.

Shot Quality: Elite shot (Richard, Kane, Sakic) creates OT opportunities.

Ice Time: Stars playing 25+ minutes increase OT scoring chances.

Positioning: Understanding where to be in OT creates scoring opportunities.

Sakic's combination of elite shot, composure, and consistent ice time made him greatest OT scorer ever.

The Verdict

Joe Sakic's eight playoff overtime goals represent clutch scoring excellence in highest-pressure situations. Maurice Richard's six OT goals built Canadiens dynasty in 1950s, establishing standard for sudden-death heroics.

Patrick Kane's five OT goals including 2010 Cup clincher show modern clutch scoring. Corey Perry and Glenn Anderson's five OT goals each demonstrate sustained playoff success creates overtime opportunities.

Jaromir Jagr's multiple OT winners across 20+ year career show longevity can build clutch reputation. Even all-time leader (Sakic) scored OT goal in just 4.7% of playoff games, showing rarity of playoff sudden-death scoring.

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