This Day in Hockey History – May 28, 2013 – Mr. Game 7 in Seventh Heaven

Some players really come into their own in make-or-break situations. Any team who had to play a Game 7 would wish to have Justin Williams scoring for them. His offensive abilities earned him the nickname “Mr. Game 7” after he helped the Los Angeles Kings win Game 7 of the Western Conference semi-finals on May 28, 2013.

Williams, drafted 28th overall in 2000 by the Philadelphia Flyers, played in his first Game 7 during the 2002-03 playoffs. Three games of the quarter-finals went into multiple overtime sessions before the Toronto Maple Leafs forced a Game 7. At Philadelphia on April 22, Williams assisted on the first and third goals and scored the one in between, leading the Flyers to a 6-1 victory. Having made it to the semi-finals, the Flyers lost to the Ottawa Senators (4-2).

Williams was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in early 2004. The next time Williams participated in a postseason was in 2006. That season, Carolina made it through all four rounds of the playoffs. They played two full series, and both of the final games were played away. Game 7 of the Conference finals took place at Buffalo on June 1, and Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals was played at Edmonton on June 19. In the former, Williams assisted the first and third goal then scored the final goal in Carolina’s 4-2 win. For the final game of the finals, Williams sunk an empty-netter, the concluding goal of the postseason, as the Hurricanes took home the Stanley Cup.

The Los Angeles Kings became Williams’ team following a trade in March 2009. They failed to make playoffs that season and lost the quarter-finals the next two. The Kings won their first Stanley Cup championship at the end of the 2011-12 season. None of the four playoff rounds needed a seventh game.

For the 2012-13 postseason, the Kings eliminated the St. Louis Blues in six games before taking on the San Jose Sharks for the conference semi-finals. This was only the fourth time two California teams played each other in the playoffs. Despite two shutouts by the Kings, the Sharks forced them to a Game 7. The Kings had home ice advantage before 18,593 fans.

During the second period, Williams scored the only two Kings goals. The first was on a power play at 4:11, and the second came almost three minutes later at 7:08. Williams commented, “I think I could have had three or four goals tonight. I had quite a few opportunities. It’s funny how the puck comes to you a little bit more often sometimes in different games.” His goalie, Jonathan Quick, made 25 saves and only allowed one goal (at 5:26 of the third period). Quick reminded everyone, “We’re only halfway up the mountain.” Having advanced to the conference finals, the Kings lost to the Chicago Blackhawks (4-1).

Still, Williams was the first NHL player to score in all of his first four Game 7 appearances. After William’s triumph in Game 7, one reporter called Williams “Mr. Game 7.” Williams responded, “I’m going to have to play a few more Game 7s and have a little more success to get that name.”

He did just that in the 2013-14 postseason. The first three rounds all required seven games for Los Angeles to advance, and none of them were played at home. Round 1 against the Sharks took place on April 30, and the Kings won 5-1. Williams had an assist on the second of Los Angeles’s goals. Round 2 against the Anaheim Ducks ended with a 6-2 victory on May 16. This time Williams scored the first goal and assisted on the last. On June 1, Round 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks ended 5-4. Williams potted the second of Los Angeles’s goal, and assisted in the game-winner. The Kings advanced to the Stanley Cup finals, where they defeated the New York Rangers (4-1) for the Stanley Cup. Williams took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, too.

All told, Williams had scored seven goals and seven assists in seven Game 7s. During the 2018-19 playoffs, Williams again made his mark in a seventh game. Having rejoined the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017, he helped them defeat the defending-champion Washington Capitals. On April 24, Williams assisted Brock McGinn in scoring in double overtime. Mr. Game 7 had done it again.

Additional Sources:

• “It’s Justin Time,” Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2013, pp. C1 and C6.
• https://www.nhl.com/player/justin-williams-8468508