Most Overtimes in a Stanley Cup Final Series

Only once has there been more than three overtime games in a Stanley Cup Final. That outlier occurred in 1951, when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens squared off.  

Let’s take a look at that historic series and the seven finals that are tied for the second-most overtime games, with three.

Stanley Cup Final With the Most Overtimes

Red Wings vs. Rangers (3 OTs, 1950)

Three of the final four games in the 1950 Stanley Cup Final went to overtime. Despite losing two of three, the Red Wings won the one that counted, securing the Stanley Cup thanks to a double-overtime victory in Game 7. 

Pete Babando, who only netted three playoff goals, two with the Red Wings, scored the Game 7 golden goal. 

Panthers vs. Oilers (3 OTs, 2025)

The Florida Panthers lost two of three overtime contests against the Edmonton Oilers, who were the Stanley Cup odds favourites at the BetMGM sportsbook entering the 2025 final. 

Those were the Panthers’ only two setbacks of the Stanley Cup Final. 

Leon Draisaitl scored the winner in Games 1 and 4, while Brad Marchand netted the winner in double overtime of Game 2. 

Blackhawks vs. Bruins (3 OTs, 2013)

The Chicago Blackhawks won two of three overtime games in the 2013 final en route to their second championship in four seasons. 

Game 1 required triple overtime, with Andrew Shaw scoring at 12:08 to give the Blackhawks the 1-0 series lead. They lost Game 2 in overtime, but won Game 4, the first of three straight victories to capture the Cup. 

Rangers vs. Maple Leafs (3 OTs, 1940)

The New York Rangers won all three overtime games in the 1940 Stanley Cup Final against the Maple Leafs, including the Game 6 Cup clincher. 

The Rangers lost two of the three games that didn’t require overtime. The Blueshirts didn’t win another championship for 54 years.

Kings vs. Rangers (3 OTs, 2014)

Three of the five 2014 Stanley Cup Final games required overtime, and the Los Angeles Kings won all three.

Games 2 and 5 went into double overtime, and three different Kings scored the overtime game-winners.

Justin Williams, who is among those who scored the most Game 7 goals in NHL history, was the Game 1 hero, Dustin Brown notched the winner in Game 2, and Alec Martinez won the Cup with his Game 5 overtime goal.

Canadiens vs. Kings (3 OTs, 1993)

The Canadiens set the record for the most overtime wins in NHL playoff history en route to winning the 1993 Stanley Cup.

Three of those victories came against the Kings in consecutive games during the Stanley Cup Final. The Canadiens won one in Montreal and two in Los Angeles, wrapping up proceedings in five games.

Eric Desjardins scored the winner in Game 2, and John LeClair was the hero in Games 3 and 4.  

Canadiens vs. Bruins (3 OTs, 1946)

The Canadiens won two of three overtime games in the 1946 final against the Boston Bruins, prevailing in five games. 

Their only loss came in Game 4 overtime. Montreal won Games 1 and 2 in overtime and celebrated its second championship in three seasons.

Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens (5 OTs, 1951)

All five contests in the 1951 Stanley Cup Final between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens went to overtime. The Maple Leafs’ only defeat came in Game 2. 

They reeled off three consecutive overtime wins in Games 3 through 5 to secure their fourth Stanley Cup in six seasons.