18 Brutal Playoff Overtimes Already, and the NHL Is Showing No Mercy!

Alright, hockey fans, can we just talk about what's happening out there on the ice right now? The Stanley Cup Playoffs are an absolute GRIND, and if you haven't been glued to your screens, you're missing out on some insane sudden death drama. We've already witnessed 18 overtime games this postseason, and get this, three of those went into double overtime! We're only in May, people, and the intensity is cranked to 11. Just last night, Game 7 of the Montreal-Buffalo series became the 18th OT thriller, and it's a stark reminder that in the playoffs, anything can happen and it can last a very, very long time.

Forget 3-on-3, This is REAL Playoff Hockey

If you're used to the regular season or even Olympic hockey, throw those rules out the window for the playoffs. There's no fancy 3-on-3 action here, folks. When the score is tied after three periods, teams hit the dressing rooms for a 15-minute ice resurface, and then it's straight back to 5-on-5 hockey, just like regulation. No shootouts either, which means every game is decided by a pure sudden death goal. These overtime periods are 20 minutes long, or until someone finds the back of the net. And trust me, every single goal is under the microscope, with the NHL Situation Room reviewing everything, like that game-winner in the Anaheim-Edmonton Game 4, or the overturned call in Vegas-Utah Game 4. Talk about high stakes on every single shot!

Wild Finishes and Historic Grinders

We've seen some absolutely bonkers finishes this year. Alex Newhook netting the Game 7 winner at 11:22 of the first overtime to oust Buffalo? Wild. Brett Howden scoring at 5:28 of the second overtime to give Vegas a 3-2 lead on Utah back on April 29? Nerve-wracking! And let's not forget the pure endurance on display. Taylor Hall scored for Carolina at 18:54 of the first OT for a 2-0 series lead. Matt Boldy tied a series for the Wild at 19:31 of the first overtime. These players are giving it their all, period after period. And if you think that's long, you gotta respect the legends of playoff overtime history. We're talking about games that went six overtimes! Back in 1936, Detroit beat the Montreal Maroons 1-0 after 116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime with Mud Bruneteau finally scoring. Then there was Toronto beating Boston in 1933 after 104 minutes, 46 seconds of OT, thanks to Ken Doraty. And who could forget Keith Primeau for Philly in 2000, scoring in the fifth overtime after 92 minutes, 1 second of extra hockey? That's not just a game; that's a whole shift at work, followed by another shift! The playoffs are a marathon, not a sprint, especially when it comes to these sudden death battles. So grab your popcorn, because with this many OT games already, we're in for some legendary finishes. Every goal, every save, every shift could be the one that ends it all. Let's go!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.