The Longest Games in NHL History

Stanley Cup overtime keeps players skating into the wee hours.

Stars v Ducks
Donald Miralle / Getty Images

Here's a list of the longest NHL games ever played. They all went into multiple overtime to settle a tie in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Games are listed in order from the longest to the shortest, although none of them can really be called "short."

March 24, 1936: 116:30 Minutes of Overtime

Detroit Red Wings 1

Montreal Maroons 0

Mud Bruneteau's goal in the sixth overtime period gave the Red Wings the first game in a best-of-five semifinal, and Detroit went on to win the Stanley Cup.

April 3, 1933: 104:46 Minutes of Overtime

Toronto Maple Leafs 1

Boston Bruins 0

This was another six-overtime marathon. Ken Doraty scored to clinch the deciding game of a best-of-five semifinal. Toronto would lose to the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup final.

May 4, 2000: 92:01 Minutes of Overtime

Philadelphia Flyers 2

Pittsburgh Penguins 1

Keith Primeau's goal tied the second-round series at two games each in the fifth overtime period. The Flyers won the next two games but blew a 3-1 series lead to New Jersey to lose the Eastern Conference final.

April 24, 2003: 80:48 Minutes of Overtime

Anaheim Ducks 4

Dallas Stars 3

Petr Sykora scored less than a minute into the fifth overtime period and the Ducks won Game 1 of the second round series. Anaheim went all the way to the Stanley Cup final before losing to New Jersey.

April 24, 1996: 79:15 Minutes of Overtime

Pittsburgh Penguins 3

Washington Capitals 2

Petr Nedved's goal in the fourth overtime tied the opening round series at two games each. Pittsburgh would win the series and eventually lose to Florida in the Eastern Conference final.

April 11, 2007: 78:06 Minutes of Overtime

Vancouver Canucks 5

Dallas Stars 4

The Canucks opened the playoffs with a win courtesy of Henrik Sedin's goal in the fourth overtime period. Vancouver would prevail in a seven-game series and be eliminated in the second round by the eventual champions from Anaheim.

March 23, 1943: 70:18 Minutes of Overtime

Toronto Maple Leafs 3

Detroit Red Wings 2

Jack McLean scored for the Leafs in the fourth overtime, tying the semifinal series at one game each, but Detroit went on to win the series and the Stanley Cup.

May 4, 2008: 69:03 Minutes of Overtime

Dallas Stars 2

San Jose Sharks 1

Brenden Morrow's goal clinched game six for the Stars in the fourth overtime period, eliminating San Jose and sending Dallas to the Western Conference final.

March 28, 1930: 68:52 Minutes of Overtime

Montreal Canadiens 2

New York Rangers 1

A goal by Gus Rivers in the fourth OT gave Montreal the first game in a best-of-three semifinal. The Canadiens swept the Rangers then the Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

April 18, 1987: 68:47 Minutes of Overtime

New York Islanders 3

Washington Capitals 2

Game seven of the opening round series went to four overtime periods before Pat LaFontaine won it for the Islanders. They'd go on to lose to Philadelphia in seven games in round two.

A Not-Quite-As-Long Game

A game hasn't gone on long enough to make this list since 2008, but at least one has pushed the time clock a little since then. Marian Gaborik broke a deadlock for the New York Rangers against the Washington Capitals in 2012's conference semifinal. The game went 54:41 minutes into overtime. New York won 2-1.