NHL: 10 Best Single-Game Performances in Stanley Cup Final History

There have been many outstanding individual performances in the Stanley Cup Final, but these are the 10 best in NHL history.

Some of these moments were made by Hall of Famers and immortals of the game, while others were accomplished by players who were otherwise obscure or unknown, but who rose to the occasion on one particular night.

The list was determined by a combination of the strength of the player's performance, how unique or record-setting it was and the importance of the effort in the game and series.

Feel free to mention any performances you feel belong on the list, but please indicate why you feel your choice is deserving of a spot in the top 10.

10. Kirk McLean (1994)

Kirk McLean wasn't perfect in Game 1 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, but he put on a spectacular performance that stands out in the minds of everyone who saw it.

The Vancouver Canucks were outshot 54-31 in this game, but they found a way to emerge as 3-2 winners in overtime.

The New York Rangers dominated overtime, but McLean stood tall. He made 17 saves before Greg Adams scored the game-winner with 34 seconds left in first overtime.

McLean's 52 saves were the most by a goalie in a Stanley Cup Final since 1971 when Ken Dryden stopped 56 shots in a double overtime loss to Chicago.

Rangers coach Mike Keenan told The New York Times after the game, "I think Vancouver walked out of here with a win tonight because of their goaltender, period."

McLean's superb performance gave the Canucks a 1-0 series lead and helped give them the confidence to stretch this series to seven games.

9. Eric Desjardins (1993)

Eric Desjardins of the Montreal Canadiens scored all three of his team's goals as Montreal managed a vital 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Final.

This game is best remembered for Marty McSorely's illegal stick which gave Montreal a power play late in the third period. Desjardins scored his second goal of the game with just 1:13 left in regulation time to tie the game, 2-2.

Desjardins scored again just 51 seconds into overtime to give Montreal the win and even the series at 1-1.

By scoring three goals in this game, Desjardins accomplished something that Doug Harvey, Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey never did. He became the first defenseman to register a hat trick in the history of the Stanley Cup Final.

8. Don Metz (1942)

The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs remain the only team to win the Stanley Cup after losing the first three games of a best-of-seven series.

In Game 5 of the series, Don Metz of Toronto had one of the most dominant single-game performances in the history of the Stanley Cup Final.

Metz scored three goals and added two assists as the Maple Leafs demolished the Detroit Red Wings 9-3 to pull to within 3-2 in the series.

Toronto's Syl Apps also had a huge game for the Leafs, scoring twice and adding three helpers.

Ironically, Metz scored only two goals and five points in 25 games with Toronto during the regular season. In fact, he never scored more than four goals in a season in his NHL career. But on this night, he was a scoring machine.

The Leafs completed their comeback with a 3-0 win at the Olympia in Detroit in Game 6 and a 3-1 win in Game 7 back at the Maple Leaf Gardens.

7. Jari Kurri (1990)

With Wayne Gretzky traded to Los Angeles, Jari Kurri stepped up his offensive production in Game 2 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final.

Kurri scored three goals and added a pair of assists as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Boston Bruins, 7-2. Kurri beat both former Oilers goalie Andy Moog twice and backup Reggie Lemelin once in this game.

The Oilers won their fifth and final Stanley Cup that season, defeating Boston in five games.

6. Peter Forsberg (1996)

Peter Forsberg netted a hat trick in Game 2 of the 1996 Stanley Cup Final to help lead the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-1 win over the Florida Panthers. John Vanbiesbrouck was the victim for all three goals.

Joe Sakic also had a big game for the Avs, assisting on four goals.

Colorado went on to sweep the series to win their first championship just one year after moving to Denver from Quebec City.

Forsberg and the Avs would win another title in 2001, but this was Forsberg's most dominant performance in the Stanley Cup Final.

5. Maurice "Rocket" Richard (1957)

The great Maurice "Rocket" Richard had his best game in the Stanley Cup Final in 1957, the year the Canadiens won their second of five straight Stanley Cups.

Richard scored four goals on Boston's Don Simmons as the Canadiens won Game 1 of the series, 5-1, at the Montreal Forum. Three of those goals came in the second period which tied an NHL record held by Ted Lindsay.

The Habs went on to win the series in five games.

4. Mike Bossy (1982)

Hall of Famer Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders was one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, and he was at his best in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals.

Bossy scored a hat trick in Game 1 of the series against the Vancouver Canucks, and his last two goals were critical to a 6-5 win for the Isles.

With the Canucks leading 5-4 late in the game, Bossy tied the score late in the third period when goalie  Richard Brodeur collided with defenseman Harold Snepsts. Then, Bossy scored the game-winner in the final seconds of the first overtime.

The Islanders won the series in four straight games, and Bossy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

3. Bobby Orr (1972)

When Rod Gilbert was asked about why the Boston Bruins beat the New York Rangers in the 1972 Stanley Cup Final, he was quick to answer.

"We were supposed to win the Stanley Cup in '71, '72 and '73," Gilbert told GreatestHockeyLegends.com. "We had a really good team but Bobby Orr made the difference between the two of us. Boston won two Cups instead of the Rangers. What a rivalry we had! We were very close in talent."

In Game 4 of the series at Madison Square Garden, Orr scored twice and added an assist as the Bruins beat the Rangers, 3-2, to take a 3-1 series lead.

Orr went on to score the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 and was later awarded his second Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs. But it was his dominant performance in Game 4 that gave the Bruins control of the series.

2. Wayne Gretzky (1985)

Wayne Gretzky was the difference in Game 3 of the 1985 Stanley Cup Final.

"The Great One" scored a hat trick as the Oilers edged the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3. All three of Gretzky's goals came in the first period, and the first two came in the first 90 seconds of the game.

It was a critical game in the series which was even, 1-1, after the first two games in Philadelphia.

The Oilers went on to win the series in five games. Gretzky scored seven goals in the series and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.

1. Ted Lindsay (1955)

Ted Lindsay had a lot of great moments in his Hall of Fame career, but his best came in Game 2 of the 1955 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens.

Lindsay scored four goals to set a new record in the Stanley Cup Final as the Detroit Red Wings beat Montreal, 7-1. "Terrible Ted" scored three goals on Jacques Plante and one on Charlie Hodge.

The series went the full seven games with the home team winning all seven. Detroit was at home for Game 7, so they won the series and their last Stanley Cup until 1997.