Players With the Most Playoff Goals Ever

All-Time Playoff Goals Leaders

The top goal-scorers in postseason history:

#1. Wayne Gretzky: 122 Goals

Stats:

• 122 goals in 208 playoff games
• 0.587 goals per game
• 382 career playoff points
• Four Stanley Cups

The Complete Player: Gretzky leads in both playoff goals and assists, showing complete offensive dominance. His 122 goals came alongside 260 assists, proving he could score and set up teammates.

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#2. Mark Messier: 109 Goals

Stats:

• 109 goals in 236 playoff games
• 0.462 goals per game
• 295 career playoff points
• Six Stanley Cups

The Captain: Messier's clutch goal-scoring defined playoff success. Famous guarantee before Game 6 in 1994 Finals followed by hat trick shows leadership and scoring ability.

#3. Jari Kurri: 106 Goals

Stats:

• 106 goals in 200 playoff games
• 0.530 goals per game
• 233 career playoff points
• Five Stanley Cups

Elite Finishing: Kurri has highest goals-per-game among top five all-time scorers. Pure finisher alongside Gretzky in Edmonton dynasty.

#4. Brett Hull: 103 Goals

Stats:

• 103 goals in 202 playoff games
• 0.510 goals per game
• 190 career playoff points
• Two Stanley Cups

Pure Scorer: Hull's 103 goals in 202 games show elite goal-scoring translates to playoffs. Famous Cup-winning goal in 1999 (controversial skate-in-crease).

#5. Glenn Anderson: 93 Goals

Stats:

• 93 goals in 225 playoff games
• 0.413 goals per game
• 214 career playoff points
• Six Stanley Cups

Oilers Dynasty: Anderson's six Cups (five Edmonton, one Rangers) show how playoff success creates goal-scoring opportunities.

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#6-10: Elite Goal-Scorers

Joe Sakic: 84 Goals

• 172 playoff games
• 0.488 goals per game
• Two Cups with Colorado

Maurice Richard: 82 Goals

• 133 playoff games
• 0.617 goals per game
• Eight Cups with Montreal

Claude Lemieux: 80 Goals

• 234 playoff games
• Four Cups, clutch performer

Jean Beliveau: 79 Goals

• 162 playoff games
• 10 Cups with Montreal

Mike Bossy: 85 Goals

• 129 playoff games
• 0.659 goals per game
• Four Cups with Islanders

Active Players Climbing Rankings

Current goal-scorers approaching all-time lists:

Alex Ovechkin: 72 Goals

Stats:

• 72 goals in 147 playoff games
• 0.490 goals per game
• One Cup (2018)

Projection: Ovechkin unlikely to reach top five due to age (38) and limited deep playoff runs remaining. Would need 30+ more playoff goals to crack top 10.

Sidney Crosby: 71 Goals

Stats:

• 71 goals in 180 playoff games
• 0.394 goals per game
• Three Cups

Projection: Crosby could reach 85-90 goals with 2-3 deep playoff runs, potentially cracking top 10 all-time.

Leon Draisaitl: 45+ Goals

Stats:

• 45+ goals in 78 playoff games
• Elite goal-scoring rate
• No Cups yet

Projection: If Draisaitl plays 100 more playoff games at current pace, could reach 100+ career playoff goals.

Connor McDavid: 30+ Goals

Stats:

• 30+ goals in fewer than 70 games
• Elite playmaker, developing goal-scoring
• No Cups yet

Projection: McDavid's playmaking focus limits goal totals, but sustained playoff success could push him to 80+ career goals.

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Single-Playoff Goal Records

Most goals in single postseason:

#1. Reggie Leach, 1976: 19 Goals

• Philadelphia Flyers
• Lost Stanley Cup Finals
• Conn Smythe despite losing

#2. Jari Kurri, 1985: 19 Goals

• Edmonton Oilers
• Won Stanley Cup
• Tied record

#3. Joe Sakic, 1996: 18 Goals

• Colorado Avalanche
• Won Stanley Cup
• Conn Smythe Trophy

#4-5. Multiple Players with 17 Goals:

• Newsy Lalonde (1919)
• Mike Bossy (1981)
• Steve Payne (1981)
• Kevin Stevens (1991)

Leach's 19 goals despite losing Finals shows individual brilliance doesn't guarantee championship.

Goals Per Game Leaders

Among players with 50+ playoff games:

#1. Mike Bossy: 0.659 GPG

• 85 goals in 129 games
• Pure goal-scorer

#2. Mario Lemieux: 0.710 GPG

• 76 goals in 107 games
• Highest rate all-time

#3. Maurice Richard: 0.617 GPG

• 82 goals in 133 games
• Original playoff goal-scorer

#4. Wayne Gretzky: 0.587 GPG

• 122 goals in 208 games
• Volume and efficiency

#5. Jari Kurri: 0.530 GPG

• 106 goals in 200 games
• Elite finishing

Mario Lemieux's 0.710 GPG is highest all-time but limited games (107) keep total at 76 goals.

Dynasty Impact on Goal Totals

How team success creates goal-scoring opportunities:

Oilers Dynasty (1984-1990):

• Gretzky (122), Messier (109), Kurri (106), Anderson (93)
• Deep playoff runs created volume
• Five Cups in seven years

Islanders Dynasty (1980-1983):

• Mike Bossy (85 goals)
• Four consecutive Cups
• Sustained success allowed goal accumulation

Modern Salary Cap: Prevents sustained dynasties, limiting goal-scoring volume for individual players compared to 1980s.

Power-Play vs. Even-Strength Goals

Scoring breakdown by situation:

Alex Ovechkin: Highest power-play goal percentage among active players. Elite power-play dominance defines playoff scoring.

Sidney Crosby: More even-strength goals than power-play, showing clutch five-on-five scoring.

Connor McDavid: Balanced between power-play and even-strength, elite in both situations.

Power-play specialists can rack up playoff goals, but even-strength scoring correlates more with winning championships.

Franchise Leaders in Playoff Goals

Top goal-scorers by team:

Edmonton Oilers: Wayne Gretzky (122 goals)

Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby (71 goals)

Colorado Avalanche: Joe Sakic (84 goals)

Detroit Red Wings: Gordie Howe (68 goals)

Montreal Canadiens: Maurice Richard (82 goals)

New York Islanders: Mike Bossy (85 goals)

Gretzky's franchise lead nearly doubles Crosby's Pittsburgh total, showing dynasty advantage.

Overtime Playoff Goals

Clutch goal-scorers in sudden death:

Most overtime playoff goals shows who delivers in highest-pressure moments. Specific all-time leaders include Maurice Richard, Joe Sakic, and modern players like Patrick Kane.

Overtime goals often define series and careers, creating legendary moments.

Can Anyone Catch Gretzky?

Projecting future all-time leaders:

Active Players: No active player within 50 goals of Gretzky's 122. Ovechkin (72) closest but age 38 limits remaining playoff games.

Future Prospects: Leon Draisaitl most likely to approach 100 playoff goals if Edmonton has sustained success over next decade.

Verdict: Gretzky's 122 playoff goals appear safe for foreseeable future, possibly forever given modern playoff formats and shorter careers.

The Verdict

Wayne Gretzky's 122 playoff goals lead all-time, 13 ahead of Mark Messier's 109. Jari Kurri's 106 goals in 200 games (0.530 GPG) show elite finishing alongside Gretzky made Oilers unstoppable.

Brett Hull's 103 goals prove pure goal-scorers can thrive in playoffs. Mike Bossy's 0.659 goals per game (85 goals in 129 games) represents highest rate among elite-volume scorers.

Alex Ovechkin (72 goals) leads active players but age 38 limits chances to crack top 10. Leon Draisaitl's elite pace suggests he could reach 100+ playoff goals with sustained Edmonton success.

Oilers dynasty dominates top five all-time (Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Anderson), showing how sustained playoff success creates individual goal-scoring records.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

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