Most goals in a single NHL playoff: Where Oilers star Leon Draisaitl ranks on the all-time list

Bryan Murphy

Most goals in a single NHL playoff: Where Oilers star Leon Draisaitl ranks on the all-time list image

Leon Draisaitl is widely considered to be the best passer in the NHL. However, the Oilers star is reminding people he has no problem scoring goals. 

With the Oilers in the midst of a second-round series against the Golden Knights, Draisaitl has been lighting the lamp left and right. The German forward is leading the 2023 postseason in goals, with 13 already in just eight games. 

Draisaitl has been Edmonton's strongest performer all postseason long. In the Oilers' first-round series win over the Kings, the 27-year-old had seven goals, recording at least one tally in five out of the six games. 

He wasted little time staying hot against Vegas. Draisaitl opened up Game 1 against the Golden Knights with a four-goal performance, and followed that up with two goals in Game 2. 

As Draisaitl continues his scorching hot 2023 playoffs, he is climbing up higher and higher on the single-playoff goal list. 

The Sporting News takes a look at where Draisaitl ranks in history and who has the most goals in a single playoff.  

NHL PLAYOFFS: FULL BRACKET | PREDICTIONS | POWER RANKINGS

Most goals in a single NHL playoffs

Draisaitl is slowly moving his way up on the all-time list for most goals in a single playoff. However, he has yet to crack the top-50 yet. 

The Oilers star is currently six goals away from tying the single-playoff record for goals, and seven away from breaking it. 

Reggie Leach and Jari Kurri share the mark for most tallies in one postseason. Leach accomplished the feat during the 1976 playoffs with the Flyers. However, his effort was not enough for Philadelphia to win the Cup, snapping a two-year winning streak. 

Nearly 10 years later, Jari Kurri scored 19 goals in the 1985 postseason with the Oilers. Edmonton won the Stanley Cup that year, defeating the Flyers. 

Player Season Team Goals
Reggie Leach 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers 19
Jari Kurri 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers 19
Joe Sakic 1995-96 Colorado Avalanche 18
Newsy Lalonde 1918-19 Montreal Canadiens 17
Mike Bossy 1980-81 New York Islanders 17
Wayne Gretzky 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers 17
Steve Payne 1980-81 Minnesota North Stars 17
Mike Bossy 1981-82 New York Islanders 17
Mike Bossy 1982-83 New York Islanders 17
Kevin Stevens 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins 17
Mario Lemieux 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins 16
Cam Neely 1990-91 Boston Bruins 16
Joe Mullen 1988-89 Calgary Flames 16
Craig Simpson 1989-90 Edmonton Oilers 16
Mario Lemieux 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins 16
Pavel Bure 1993-94 Vancouver Canucks 16
Mark Messier 1982-83 Edmonton Oilers 15
Yvan Cournoyer 1972-73 Montreal Canadiens 15
Jari Kurri 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers 15
Wayne Gretzky 1992-93 Los Angeles Kings 15
Sidney Crosby 2009-09 Pittsburgh Penguins 15
Alex Ovechkin 2017-18 Washington Capitals 15

2023 NHL playoff goal leaders

Draisaitl has nearly double the amount of goals as the next-closest player in these playoffs. 

The Oilers superstar is the only player so far to hit double digits in goals during the 2023 postseason. The second-most is Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, who had seven goals in the first round, however, Colorado was eliminated by Seattle in their series. 

Here is a look at the goal leaders for the 2023 NHL playoffs:

Player Team Goals
Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers 13
Mikko Rantanen Colorado Avalanche 7
Chris Kreider New York Rangers 6
Brandon Montour Florida Panthers 6
Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers 5
Matthew Tkachuk Florida Panthers 5
Roope Hintz Dallas Stars 5
Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs 5
Tyler Bertuzzi Boston Bruins 5
Sebastian Aho Carolina Hurricanes 5
Chandler Stephenson Vegas Golden Knights 5
Jack Hughes New Jersey Devils 5
Taylor Hall Boston Bruins 5
Tyler Seguin Dallas Stars 5
Adrian Kempe Los Angeles Kings 5
Sam Reinhart Florida Panthers 5
Joe Pavelski Dallas Stars 5
David Pastrnak Boston Bruins 5

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.