This Day in Hockey History – May 13, 1980 and 2006 – Special Team in Overtime

Twenty-six years apart, on May 13, special teams scoring in overtime led to victories for the visitors. In 1980, Denis Potvin’s power-play goal started the Stanley Cup finals right the New York Islanders. In 2006, Jason Pominville’s short-handed goal advanced the Buffalo Sabres into the Eastern Conference finals.

The Islanders were unleashing a dynasty. They passed the Los Angeles Kings, the Boston Bruins, and the Buffalo Sabres on their way to their first Stanley Cup finals. To that point, they had won four of five playoff games that went into sudden-death overtime. According to the New York Daily News, the Islander’s motto seemed to be, “When the first goal wins it, we know we’re gonna do it.”

Game 1 of the finals took place at Philadelphia Spectrum. The opponents scored one goal apiece in every period. Well, actually, Potvin scored on his own net in the first period though credit was given to the Flyers. Fortunately, teammate Mike Bossy was able to take advantage of a power play about a minute and a half later. Potvin was also able to start the second period with a goal for the Islanders. After two Philadelphia goals, Potvin and Bossy assisted Stefan Persson in tying the game at 16:18 of the third period.

Just over two minutes into overtime, Philadelphia defenseman Jimmy Watson “grabbed [John] Tonelli’s stick arm and hauled him down to the ice, preventing a pass” in front of the net. Although uncommon to call a penalty during overtime, Referee Andy Van Hellemond called him on holding at 2:08. Tonelli commented, “It took a lot of guts to call it, but it was a penalty.” His coach, Al Arbour, justified, “They (penalties in overtime) are not called very often, but if there is an infraction, it should be called. And it was an infraction.” Even Philadelphia Coach Pat Quinn agreed, “[I]t musta been a pretty gross penalty to call it after what they let go.”

Although Potvin had been on the ice for a couple of minutes already, Arbour left him out there for the power play. Arbour then attempted to call a timeout to give Potvin a rest, but the referee told him he’d waited too long. Soon, Arbour’s decision paid off. Teammate Bob Nystrom sent the puck to Tonelli behind Philadelphia’s net. Potvin skated in from the blue line to catch Tonelli’s pass and “whip to the far corner of the goal.” Potvin simply said, “I had to come in at just the right speed. And that’s what happened.” He became the first (since the NHL began such record-keeping in 1934) to score an overtime power-play goal in the Stanley Cup finals. Bossy complimented, “Denis is Denis. He’s capable of being the best defenseman out there. He realizes that, and we realize that.”

At that point, the Islanders had five overtime victories, all on the road. Tonelli told the press, “I don’t think it has anything to do with destiny. I think we’re just working for it. We go into those overtimes and, man, we’re working.” According to Potvin, they won so many because, “We just seem to care so much about the victory. When we go out there for an overtime, we know we’re as good as anybody, if not better.”

Fortunately for the Islanders, they had more games remaining at New York because they lost the other two games at Philadelphia. Still, they ended the same way they began the series. The Islanders scored in overtime to win Game 6 and their first of four consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

Twenty-six years later, the NHL was only in the conference semi-finals on May 13. The Buffalo Sabres had eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers in the quarter-finals. They looked like they were about to sweep the Ottawa Senators after winning the first three games. In fact, they had won the first and third in overtime. The Senators saved themselves in Game 4.

Game 5 took place at Ottawa Scotiabank Place with an over-capacity crowd of 20,024. The opponents matched each other with one goal each in both the first and second periods. Ottawa scored on a power play in the first while Buffalo scored during a second-period power play. Neither managed to score during the final period in regulation.

At 1:44 into overtime, Buffalo’s Jay McKee was penalized for tripping. About 40 seconds later, at 2:26, teammate Jason Pominville “sweeps around Alfredsson on the left wing and puts a shot around Emery into the far side.” He was the first NHL player to score an overtime shortie that ended a playoff series. Even though the Senators had outshot the Sabres, they lost all three of their home games. Meanwhile, the Sabres had won all the odd games in overtime. Despite pushing hard through seven games, including two in overtime, the Buffalo Sabres lost the Eastern Conference finals. They made it to that round again the following season but have not managed since.

Additional Sources:

• Mary Flannery, “Potvin the hero in overtime 4-3,” New York Daily News, 14 May 1980, pp. 50 and 68.
• Lawrie Mifflin, “Potvin works overtime in OT – and gets one for the book,” New York Daily News, 14 May 1980, p. 50.
• “These men in blue are overtime’s finest,” New York Daily News, 14 May 1980, pp. 51 and 62.
• Chuck Slater, “Two minutes that shook the Flyers’ world,” New York Daily News, 14 May 1980, pp. 51.
• Wayne Scanlan, “Sneaky, dangerous – deadly,” Ottawa Citizen, 14 May 2006, pp. D1-D2.
• Allen Panzeri, “Sudden death, indeed,” Ottawa Citizen, 14 May 2006, p. D3.