Top 100 Players Since 1979/80 for 3rd Period/OT Game-Tying or Go-Ahead Goals in Playoffs

[Hatfield]

Brett Hull is better than Wayne Gretzky in the playoffs then?

Also confused where noted “clutch” forward Peter Forsberg is..?

You often see Gretzky further down lists like these because the lists often skew in favor of players from lower scoring eras. For example, Gretzky racked up most of his goals in an era when 10+ goal games were not uncommon, so the odds of each of his goals being the game winner were lower. Compare to Ovechkin, who is not quite as prolific, but the average goal that he scores has greater odds of being a game winner since only 4-5 other goals are being scored in the average game.

 

[Sinter Klaas]

Also, something to consider. How often were teams ahead in their games? Clutch goals in the third period are scored when teams are tied or behind by a goal. If a team consistently starts off a playoff game by building a commanding lead, the need for that clutch goal evaporates. I guess the same thing applies if they are really poor and enter the 3rd facing a huge deficit. Those teams get dinged in this instance.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Also, something to consider. How often were teams ahead in their games? Clutch goals in the third period are scored when teams are tied or behind by a goal. If a team consistently starts off a playoff game by building a commanding lead, the need for that clutch goal evaporates. I guess the same thing applies if they are really poor and enter the 3rd facing a huge deficit. Those teams get dinged in this instance.

The Oilers had 13 games where they were tied or behind by one in the 3rd for 1984 and 1985 combined. Montreal in 1993 alone had 15 games. The last four Stanley Cup winners have averaged 12 games per year.

 

[amnesiac]

Hull* (1999)

 

[amnesiac]

biggest surprises:

Bobby Smith
Dale Hunter
Stu Barnes

 

[Midnight Judges]

You often see Gretzky further down lists like these because the lists often skew in favor of players from lower scoring eras. For example, Gretzky racked up most of his goals in an era when 10+ goal games were not uncommon, so the odds of each of his goals being the game winner were lower. Compare to Ovechkin, who is not quite as prolific, but the average goal that he scores has greater odds of being a game winner since only 4-5 other goals are being scored in the average game.

The flip side is, wouldn't there be more lead changes and game tying 3rd period goals back during the high scoring era? Or is that more than offset by the number of blowouts?