Historic sliding doors moments that reshaped an entire Stanley Cup playoff year?

[I Am Not A Puck]

I threw this topic off in the general discussion NHL talk for 2025's postseason but I want to try this one for historic purposes.

There have been many a variety of moments throughout a playoff where you wonder just how much one thing changing would result in a massive sliding doors moment that reshapes everything. A Cup winner or a Cup Final can sometimes hinge on one game, one play, one moment

To quote Grandpa Simpson, "Even the tiniest change could alter the future in ways you can't imagine!"

But for the purposes of this, I'm talking about realistic moments that could reshape an entire postseason where the game going differently is real instead of a strawman argument

I'll start with 2 examples:

#1. 1994- Kirk McLean never makes 'The Save' and Vancouver is one and done. Round 2 (assuming the Sharks still beat DET) is San Jose/Calgary and Dallas/Toronto. No 3-1 comeback and it ensures a completely different Stanley Cup Final opponent for the Rangers

#2. 2010- Milan Lucic doesn't hit the post in game 7 vs PHI He had scored twice, and a hat trick puts them up 4-3 midway through the third period and maybe retaking the lead steals momentum back from Philly. We don't get the double 3-0 comeback, a completely different SCF, plus it means we get a Bruins/Canadiens East Finals

 

[Michael Farkas]

This awful rebound actually goes in off Seidenberg so that abomination in the net for Boston is even less relevant...

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

This awful rebound actually goes in off Seidenberg so that abomination in the net for Boston is even less relevant...

Did Thomas like run over your dog or something man?

I remember T.T.s peak years in Boston very well as a hate-watching Canadiens fan, and the word overrated was never on my mind about him. He was aggressive and took risks in ways that other goalies in the league just weren't doing at the time.

His window of relevance was pretty short ala Jonathan Quick, but damn if the peak of the supernova wasn't bright.

 

[McGarnagle]

 

[McGarnagle]

Marchand doesn't miss the breakaway at the end of game 5 in 2023 is a timeline altering event

2019 if Kadri keeps his cool in game 2 and doesn't try to murder Jake Debrusk in a rage, the Leafs might have their long lost cup

 

[David Suzuki]

Habs made the playoffs on the last game of the season by getting a loser point against the Leafs lol. What happens if Halak isn't there to turn into a god against Washington and the Penguins is another good one from the 2010 playoffs...

 

[I Am Not A Puck]

Habs made the playoffs on the last game of the season by getting a loser point against the Leafs lol. What happens if Halak isn't there to turn into a god against Washington and the Penguins is another good one from the 2010 playoffs...

Here’s one thing that gets forgotten: if the Rangers win that game 82 vs Philly, Halak and MTL face the Devils in a 2-7 matchup

 

[Buffalowing1988]

Jay McKee catching a staph infection before the Sabres-Hurricanes ECF? The Sabres had to use three AHL defenders in that series and still went to Game 7. I could add Schaefer taking out Connolly (not a dirty hit, Connolly had his head down all the time) who was the best forward in the entire playoffs at the time.

Those Sabres would have demolished Edmonton. But that's just a woulda, coulda, shoulda, scenario.

 

[I Am Not A Puck]

Jay McKee catching a staph infection before the Sabres-Hurricanes ECF? The Sabres had to use three AHL defenders in that series and still went to Game 7. I could add Schaefer taking out Connolly (not a dirty hit, Connolly had his head down all the time) who was the best forward in the entire playoffs at the time.

Those Sabres would have demolished Edmonton. But that's just a woulda, coulda, shoulda, scenario.

I think what really hurt BUF that series was blowing a 2 goal lead in game 5. Otherwise Briere in game 6 is a series clincher.

Obviously that probably means McKee plays vs EDM but how many of their other injured defensemen would have returned for the SCF?

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

If Cloutier stops Lidstrom's center ice shot in game 3.

 

[tabness]

If Cloutier stops Lidstrom's center ice shot in game 3.

I don't know how important that one would have been, Wings were coasting since the Olympic break, and the wheels really fell off down the stretch as they started restong players and half assing it since they had the league record locked up tight. Came into the playoffs super casually and Vancouver gave a nice wakeup call. By game three you could see the Wings starting to assert themselves again, and just be flat out better.

The statue of liberty goal fits more I think, Detroit had clearly established they were the superior team in game six and never looked back, but no more room for error, and Colorado was real good. Thank you again Patrick, you cocky dummy lol

 

[I Am Not A Puck]

I don't know how important that one would have been, Wings were coasting since the Olympic break, and the wheels really fell off down the stretch as they started restong players and half assing it since they had the league record locked up tight. Came into the playoffs super casually and Vancouver gave a nice wakeup call. By game three you could see the Wings starting to assert themselves again, and just be flat out better.

The statue of liberty goal fits more I think, Detroit had clearly established they were the superior team in game six and never looked back, but no more room for error, and Colorado was real good. Thank you again Patrick, you cocky dummy lol

Plus the VAN/DET game 3 was already tied at 1-1 so it's no guarantee the Canucks would have taken a 3rd period lead anyway

 

[ScottyMascotty]

Marchand doesn't miss the breakaway at the end of game 5 in 2023 is a timeline altering event

That and also "Lollmark" moment in OT

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

as ever, if mike gillis had listened to ehrhoff and traded for seidenberg in the spring of 2010 to replace the injured willie mitchell. he could have easily outbid boston with the assets he ended up
sending to florida anyway in the keith ballard trade.

imo it would have swung that year’s cup (the guy they got, andrew alberts, was gongshow-bad and usually held to 12 or fewer minutes a game, giving the regrettable shane o’brien too many monutes) and if they’d been able to re-sign him that swings the next one too (no ballard trade, no seidenberg on the bruins)

 

[McGarnagle]

That and also "Lollmark" moment in OT

True, the worst part is that that piece of crap Monty blamed Matt Grzelcyk for the mixup and scratched him for Clifton and gave a clearly injured and rattled Ullmark the start in game 6, and in that game Clifton got worked and Ullmark gave up like 6 bad goals.

 

[Crosby2010]

There are a lot of those moments.

Richter making that huge save from Richer (I think?) and the rebound nearly goes in off of some skates such as Bernie Nicholls'. This is Game 7 in overtime in 1994. Matteau scores a minute or two later. If the Devils win and knock off the Rangers I think it paints a different portrait of the Rangers at that time. Messier never wins in NY, that team loses a lot of players afterwards as it is, and they traded a lot of youth for those vets. But if they never win in 1994 it is a disaster.

Mike Vernon letting in the softie goal from Esa Tikkanen in 1991 in Game 7. Flames are up 3-0 in that game, Tik takes a soft shot that Vernon had all day to look at and it is from way out too. All of the sudden late in the 1st period it is 3-1. If the Flames win Game 7 they play the Kings. So either the Flames or Gretzky's Kings are going to the Cup final (I think either one of them beats Minnesota). We could have a Gretzky/Lemieux Cup final. Or Calgary could be in the final and possibly win. The Flames didn't have that self-destruct reputation in 1991 yet, but after this loss it heated up.

1974 Cup final Game 2. Someone clears the puck and manages to stop Moose Dupont from tying the game with 30 seconds left. Game goes into overtime and Bobby Clarke scores to tie the series. If the Bruins win Game 2, they are up 2-0. That series takes on a whole new feel than being 1-1. I don't see the Orr/Espo Bruins blowing a 2-0 series lead. The Broad Street Bullies make a name for themselves, but have to wait until next year to win. No way does Sinden fire a Cup winning coach in Bep Guidolin. And he doesn't hire Don Cherry. And outside of coaching Cherry does something else pretty well known for 4 decades! Hey, maybe Grapes still gets hired by someone, it is likely, but the way the cookie crumbled changed history I think.

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

Richter making that huge save from Richer (I think?) and the rebound nearly goes in off of some skates such as Bernie Nicholls'. This is Game 7 in overtime in 1994. Matteau scores a minute or two later. If the Devils win and knock off the Rangers I think it paints a different portrait of the Rangers at that time. Messier never wins in NY, that team loses a lot of players afterwards as it is, and they traded a lot of youth for those vets. But if they never win in 1994 it is a disaster.

Its funny because 2 years prior it was a save Richter didnt make vs Pittsburgh that changed alot. That save is the shot from Francis from center ice in game 4 vs Pittsburgh. Im still convinced if he stops that the Rangers (who were up 2-1 already in that series) obviously go up 3-1 and March all the way to the cup.

 

[PistolPete]

Did Thomas like run over your dog or something man?

I remember T.T.s peak years in Boston very well as a hate-watching Canadiens fan, and the word overrated was never on my mind about him. He was aggressive and took risks in ways that other goalies in the league just weren't doing at the time.

His window of relevance was pretty short ala Jonathan Quick, but damn if the peak of the supernova wasn't bright.

Look at you pumping his tires

 

[Buffalowing1988]

I think what really hurt BUF that series was blowing a 2 goal lead in game 5. Otherwise Briere in game 6 is a series clincher.

Obviously that probably means McKee plays vs EDM but how many of their other injured defensemen would have returned for the SCF?

That's certainly a good point!

 

[frisco]

Game Three, Second Round: Washington-Pittsburgh 2018. Series tied 1-1.

Second period Penguins leading 2-1. Tom Wilson launches himself at Zach Aston-Reese with a mammoth hit breaking ZAR's jaw at about 10:20 left in the second. No penalty called although Wilson was suspended three games eventually. Also, you could make the case with the three game suspension that Wilson probably deserved five and a game for the hit. Also, this was a momentum changing hit as play stopped for 6-7 minutes while ZAR was attended to and they scraped up the blood and such.

A minute later, when the Pens probably should've been on the PP, Washington scores to tie it 2-2. Crosby makes it 3-2 Pens going into the 3rd. Wilson, again arguably shouldn't have been in the game, gets the assist on the Washington 3-3 marker. Then, with like a minute left, Wilson blatantly slew foots a pinching Olli Maatta (?) which directly leads to a two-on-one finished by Ovechkin.

Caps take the game and the series in six and go on to win the Cup. I think it is a different outcome had Wilson got a major for the hit on ZAR as things played out.

My Best-Carey

 

[I Am Not A Puck]

If anything, that rebound play is basically BOS's equivalent of the Luongo save on Sharp- THATclose to a June run cut short before it ever started

In an alternate universe, both the Bruins AND Canucks are one and done and we have a completely and utterly different SCF

 

[I Am Not A Puck]

Richter making that huge save from Richer (I think?) and the rebound nearly goes in off of some skates such as Bernie Nicholls'. This is Game 7 in overtime in 1994. Matteau scores a minute or two later. If the Devils win and knock off the Rangers I think it paints a different portrait of the Rangers at that time. Messier never wins in NY, that team loses a lot of players afterwards as it is, and they traded a lot of youth for those vets. But if they never win in 1994 it is a disaster.

If the Devils lose to Vancouver in the SCF, do they come into 1995 with a different mentality? Does losing a Cup Final change the NJD trajectory as opposed to that ECF game 7?

Conversely, had they won, do they go into 1995 with some complacency? Maybe Pittsburgh or a hungry Flyers team picks them off in the East playoffs?

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

Game Three, Second Round: Washington-Pittsburgh 2018. Series tied 1-1.

Second period Penguins leading 2-1. Tom Wilson launches himself at Zach Aston-Reese with a mammoth hit breaking ZAR's jaw at about 10:20 left in the second. No penalty called although Wilson was suspended three games eventually. Also, you could make the case with the three game suspension that Wilson probably deserved five and a game for the hit. Also, this was a momentum changing hit as play stopped for 6-7 minutes while ZAR was attended to and they scraped up the blood and such.

A minute later, when the Pens probably should've been on the PP, Washington scores to tie it 2-2. Crosby makes it 3-2 Pens going into the 3rd. Wilson, again arguably shouldn't have been in the game, gets the assist on the Washington 3-3 marker. Then, with like a minute left, Wilson blatantly slew foots a pinching Olli Maatta (?) which directly leads to a two-on-one finished by Ovechkin.

Caps take the game and the series in six and go on to win the Cup. I think it is a different outcome had Wilson got a major for the hit on ZAR as things played out.

My Best-Carey

Im not so sure this was the 3rd year in a row for a top heavy team. The Caps were riding high after that win vs Pitt but im just not so sure the Pens have enough in the tank to beat the Bolts who im sure had 16 fresh in thier minds and were a much better team this time around.

 

[JianYang]

A bit surprised that this hasn't been mentioned yet but the 1993 kings were moments away from taking a 2-0 series lead on the road against the Canadiens, but Marty mcsorely got caught with an illegal stick and the kings ended up losing the series in 5 games.

 

[WarriorofTime]

2019 if Kadri keeps his cool in game 2 and doesn't try to murder Jake Debrusk in a rage, the Leafs might have their long lost cup

That's a big time stretch