Who Has the Most Game-Winning Goals in NHL Playoffs?

Every game-winning goal in the NHL playoffs is worth its weight in gold. Some players are made for the winning moment, rising to the occasion when their team needs it most. 

These individuals came up clutch more than anyone else, scoring the most playoff game-winners all time during the NHL playoffs.

Most Game-Winning Goals in NHL Playoff History 

Of the 10 players with the most game-winning goals in NHL playoff history, only one hasn’t hung up his skates yet. 

Brad Marchand scored 16 playoff game-winners, the last of which occurred in Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers.

6. Joe Pavelski (18 GWG) 

Despite being among the most clutch playoff performers, Joe Pavelski is the only one of the featured players not to win a Stanley Cup. 

He scored four game-winning goals in a single playoff twice in 2016 with the San Jose Sharks and 2023 with the Dallas Stars. The Sharks lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, and the Stars fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final. 

5. Maurice Richard (18 GWG) 

Maurice Richard, among those with the most overtime goals in the NHL playoffs, scored four game-winning goals in the 1958 playoffs, propelling the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup. 

He also had two playoff seasons in which he registered three game-winners (1951 and 1957), culminating the 1957 season with a Stanley Cup.

4. Claude Lemieux (19 GWG) 

Claude Lemieux was as good at agitating as he was at scoring clutch goals. 

Thanks to his unsurpassed ability to raise his level in the postseason, he won four Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche. 

He scored four game-winning goals in two playoffs, the first of which was in his first postseason, which resulted in the Canadiens winning the Stanley Cup. The other came in 1997, when the Avalanche lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference final.  

3. Joe Sakic (19 GWG) 

Eight of Sakic’s 19 playoff game-winning goals were scored in overtime. He enjoyed his best playoffs in 1996, scoring six game-winners to propel the Avalanche to Stanley Cup glory. 

Only Brad Richards scored more game-winners in a single playoffs (seven). Sakic scored three game-winners during his second Stanley Cup run, the second-most of his career. 

2. Brett Hull (24 GWG) 

Thirteen of Brett Hull’s 24 playoff game-winning goals came in six seasons toward the start of his illustrious career. 

He didn’t score one in his first six playoff games with the Calgary Flames, but netted at least one in the following six seasons with the St. Louis Blues. 

His best playoff performance came in 2000 with the Dallas Stars, when he scored four game-winners. The Stars lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final. 

He won two Stanley Cups, scoring two game-winning goals in those campaigns (1999 and 2002). 

1. Wayne Gretzky (24 GWG) 

Wayne Gretzky never scored more than three game-winners in a single playoffs, but notched three five times. 

The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup in three of those seasons (1985, 1985, 1988), and made the Stanley Cup Final in the other (1983).

Only four came in overtime, and he netted three game-winners in the Stanley Cup Final, including two against the Boston Bruins in 1988. 

Who Scored the Most Game-Winning Goals in One Playoff? 

Brad Richards scored the most game-winning goals in one playoff, notching seven with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. 

Which Active Player Scored the Most Game-Winning Goals in a Single Playoff?

Brad Marchand scored the most game-winning goals in the playoffs of active players (16).