There are no shootouts in playoff hockey. In the NHL, if a postseason game is tied after regulation, it goes to overtime, where the next team to score wins the game.
This format has resulted in chaotic, drama-filled games that can last multiple overtime periods, which is part of what makes playoff hockey the best.
Fans were treated to such a game last year in the playoffs. During the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, the Panthers and Hurricanes played into the wee hours of the night for Game 1. Matthew Tkachuk's goal late in the fourth overtime period gave Florida a 3-2 victory in Raleigh, N.C.
Could we see another elongated contest in 2024? We shall have to wait and see.
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Here is a look at the 10 longest playoff games in NHL history.
The 10 longest overtime playoff games in NHL history
10. Stars vs. Sharks: 129 minutes, 3 seconds (4 OTs)
- Date: May 4, 2008
- Score: Stars 2, Sharks 1
- OT winner: Brenden Morrow
- Round: Western Conference semifinal
The Stars have found themselves in a number of elongated playoff games. In 2008, Dallas took San Jose to four overtimes in a pivotal Western Conference semifinal contest. Brendan Morrow's goal in quadruple overtime not only won the game for the Stars, but it knocked the Sharks out of the postseason in devastating fashion.
9. Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings: 130 minutes, 18 seconds (4 OTs)
- Date: March 23, 1943
- Score: Maple Leafs 3, Red Wings 2
- OT winner: Jack McLean
- Round: Stanley Cup semifinal
In 1943, Toronto and Detroit were locked in a 2-2 battle that went into four overtimes before Jack McLean scored the game-winner for the Maple Leafs. The Red Wings would get the last laugh though, winning the series and eventually the Stanley Cup.
8. Stars vs. Canucks: 138 minutes, 6 seconds (4 OTs)
- Date: April 11, 2007
- Score: Canucks 5, Stars 4
- OT winner: Henrik Sedin
- Round: Western Conference quarterfinal
The most combined shots in a game belonged to the Stars and Canucks. The two teams totaled 132 shots on goal in a 2007 Western Conference quarterfinal matchup. The Sedin twins eventually ended the contest, as Daniel set up Henrik in the fourth overtime for the game-winning goal.
7. Capitals vs. Penguins: 139 minutes, 15 seconds (4 OTs)
- Date: April 24, 1996
- Score: Penguins 3, Capitals 2
- OT winner: Petr Nedved
- Round: Eastern Conference quarterfinal
Petr Nedved provided all the offense that the Penguins needed in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal contest. Pittsburgh scored twice in the third, then potted the OT winner with just 45 seconds left in the fourth overtime.
6. Panthers vs. Hurricanes: 139 minutes, 47 seconds (4 OTs)
- Date: May 18, 2023
- Score: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2
- OT Winner: Matthew Tkachuk
- Round: Eastern Conference final
The Florida-Carolina series got off to a memorable start with the teams playing almost seven full periods in the opener. Matthew Tkachuk finally ended it with a wrist shot that sneaked over the glove of Canes goalie Frederik Andersen and into the net at 19:47 of OT period No. 4 (and at 1:55 a.m. ET on May 19). Carolina had tied the game at 3:47 of the third period on a goal by Stefan Noesen. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 63 saves, while Andersen stopped 57 shots.
5. Stars vs. Ducks: 140 minutes, 48 seconds (5 OTs)
- Date: April 24, 2003
- Score: Ducks 4, Stars 3
- OT Winner: Petr Sykora
- Round: Western Conference semifinal
While the marathon between the Stars and Ducks dragged on to five overtimes, Petr Sykora needed just 48 seconds in the fifth extra frame to end the contest and get the Ducks a Game 1 win. Stars defensemen Sergei Zubov (63:51) and Derian Hatcher (62:02) both eclipsed the record for most ice time in a game, which was set by Dan McGillis in 2000. It has since been broken thanks to No. 4 on this list.
4. Blue Jackets vs. Lightning: 150 minutes, 27 seconds (5 OTs)
- Date: Aug. 11, 2020
- Score: Lightning 3, Blue Jackets 2
- OT winner: Brayden Point
- Round: First round
Joonas Korpisalo did everything he could to get the Blue Jackets a win to start their 2020 playoff series against the Lightning, but Brayden Point beat him in the fifth overtime to lift Tampa to a Game 1.
Korpisalo's 85 saves set a new NHL single-game record, Seth Jones' 65:06 time on ice broke the previous mark set by Zubov, and the Lightning's 88 shots on goal set a record.
3. Flyers vs. Penguins: 152 minutes, 1 second (5 OTs)
- Date: May 4, 2000
- Score: Flyers 2, Penguins 1
- OT winner: Keith Primeau
- Round: Eastern Conference semifinal
The longest games in modern NHL history belong to the Flyers and Penguins. The two Pennsylvania rivals went to five overtimes before Keith Primeau ripped a shot by Pittsburgh goalie Ron Tugnutt.
2. Maple Leafs vs. Bruins: 164 minutes, 46 seconds (6 OTs)
- Date: April 3, 1933
- Score: Maple Leafs 1, Bruins 0
- OT winner: Ken Doraty
- Round: Stanley Cup semifinal
It was a goaltending duel between Boston's Tiny Thompson and Toronto's Lorne Chabot in this 1933 Stanley Cup semifinal. The game went into six overtime before Ken Doraty scored on Thompson for the game-winning goal.
1. Red Wings vs. Montreal Maroons: 176 minutes, 3 seconds (6 OTs)
- Date: March 24, 1936
- Score: Red Wings 1, Maroons 0
- OT winner: Mud Bruneteau
- Round: Stanley Cup semifinal
The longest game in NHL history remains the battle between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons. Chabot, the same goalie for the Maple Leafs in 1933, was in net for Montreal and Detroit had Normie Smith. Neither goalie allowed a single goal until rookie forward Modere "Mud" Bruneteau finally beat Chabot in the sixth overtime.
