1983:
Wayne Gretzky
sets an NHL record for most points in a playoff game with seven (four goals, three assists) in the Oilers'
10-2 win against the Calgary Flames
at Stampede Corral in Game 3 of the Smythe Division Final. Gretzky scores two goals in each of the first two periods; he gets one assist in the first period and two in the third. Gretzky also scores one of the Oilers' record-tying three shorthanded goals. He matches his own single-game record in 1985 and 1987 before
Patrik Sundstrom
of the New Jersey Devils breaks the mark with eight points in a game on April 22, 1988.
On the same night,
Mike Ramsay
of the Buffalo Sabres becomes the second defenseman in NHL history to score goals in four consecutive playoff games. His goal helps the Sabres
defeat the Bruins 4-3
at Memorial Auditorium in Game 3 of the Adams Division Final.
1996:The Florida Panthers win the first playoff game in their history when
John Vanbiesbrouck
makes 42 saves in a
6-3 victory against the Bruins
at Miami Arena in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Ray Sheppard
scores two goals for the third-year Panthers, who eliminate the Bruins and upset the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins to reach the Cup Final.
1997:
Martin Brodeur
caps the Devils'
5-2 victory against the Canadiens
in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at East Rutherford, New Jersey, by becoming the second NHL goalie to score a goal in a playoff game. Brodeur shoots the puck the length of the ice into the empty net after the Canadiens pull goalie
Jocelyn Thibault
for an extra skater.