New Jersey Devils surround Travis Zajac #19 (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /
The New Jersey Devils have some of the greatest playoff goals in NHL history.
It’s been a long time since the New Jersey Devils had a magical run, but at one point in their history, it seemed like they had a magical run every year. That’s what happens when missed the playoffs in their first five years of existence and six of their first seven, but then make the playoffs in 19 of the next 20 postseasons. It was an insane run by a Devils team that enjoyed some of the best hockey stories of the past 30 years.
When you have someone in the conversation for “greatest of all time” on your team for two decades, the headlines write themselves on the way to a Stanley Cup Championship. The Devils have three titles and made the Cup Finals five times. Those five runs all came with amazing games, but there is nothing like playoff overtime. Some of the game-winners came in the biggest moments of the season, while others just helped avoid disaster. Either way, they were the lifeblood of that particular run.
With that said, it was hard to cut this down to just five goals, so here are a couple of honorable mentions.
1988 ECF Game 2 versus Boston Bruins: Doug Brown scores
This was the first-ever overtime goal in New Jersey Devils playoff history. Doug Brown signed with the Devils out of Boston College in 1986, and he spent the next seven seasons with the Devils. In his first full season, he was on the ice in Game 3 with the Devils down in the series 1-0 in the extra period. He threw a seeing-eye puck at the net, and it found the back of the net. Maybe if the Devils won that series, we’d think of this one more fondly.
1994 ECF Game 1 versus New York Rangers: Stéphane Richer scores
A goal against the Rangers is always going to get mentioned. This goal and the Zajac goal are probably numbers six and seven on the list. Stéphane Richer destroyed Adam Graves and beat Mike Richter to give the Devils the series lead. We know how it ended and we won’t hash it out again, but this moment was great.
1995 2nd Round Game 4 versus Pittsburgh Penguins: Neal Broten scores
John MacLean with one of the best cross-crease passes you will ever see. MacLean brought the puck around the net, skipped Brian Rolston to find a wide-open Neal Broten to the left of the goalie. He did not miss from there. The Devils ended up winning the series the next game to dispatch the Penguins fairly easily.
2001 2nd Round Games 2 & 3 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Randy McKay and Brian Rafalski score
It’s really hard to keep these two games in one of the greatest series in this franchise’s history. The Maple Leafs, as you know, have gone quite a while without a Stanley Cup Championship. That season, they went toe to toe with the defending champs, taking the series to seven games. The Devils ended up winning Game 7, but without these two overtime wins, it never gets there.
2012 1st Round Game 6 vs. Florida Panthers: Travis Zajac scores
The Devils were facing overtime down 3-2 in the series and tied 2-2 in the game. They were supposed to easily roll past the Florida Panthers (unless you ask Scott Burnside), but they were faced with the fight for their playoff lives. Travis Zajac missed most of the season with an injury and returned right before the playoffs. It ended up being the biggest addition for the Devils right before the postseason since they made Larry Robinson coach in 2000. That magical 2012 run doesn’t happen without this goal.
2003 2nd Round Game 5 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Grant Marshall scores
When we talk about magical playoff runs by the New Jersey Devils, Grant Marshall is near the top of the list. Marshall has 92 career goals in 700 NHL games. He finished his career playing in Lowell, but for one run he was one of the best players on the ice. Things came to a fever point when he ended the second round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It all started with a great keep by Colin White on the blue line, who then sent it over to Scott Niedermayer. Then, the puck was sent deep to Jamie Langenbrunner who put it on net. Grant Marshall was right there to clean up the rebound and send the Devils to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Watching a team scramble to tackle the man who sent them to the next round is one of my favorite things in hockey. It’s the ultimate elation-devastation feeling in the world. There is so much hope for both teams, but the reaction is completely the opposite. Marshall was the hero on this night, and he continued that momentum throughout the playoffs.
Marshall ended up scoring six goals that postseason, the only six goals he scored in 90 (!!!) career playoff games. This goal was easily his most important, and it helped the Devils move on and eventually win their third Stanley Cup.
1995 1st Round Game 4 vs. Boston Bruins: Randy McKay scores
The Crash Line was one of the most famous lines in New Jersey Devils history. It was a line that would knock you out but could score just as easily. Honestly, Randy McKay probably doesn’t get the recognition he deserves when it comes to the all-time great players in this franchise’s history.
McKay was absolutely ruthless with the forecheck, and it directly turned into a goal here. Like, he didn’t even shoot the puck. It went from turnover to in the net in one fluid motion.
The reason this goal makes it over some of the other honorable mentions is how important it actually was. The Devils were down 2-1 in the series after losing the first two games at home. If they lost this game, they’d be returning to New Jersey facing elimination. Instead, the Devils tied the series and took all of the momentum.
McKay’s goal was something they should teach in a hockey school. It was 100% effort. Mike Peluso forced the Bruins defenseman from behind the net, and Randy McKay was in his face immediately. A back-handed poke check led to the puck in the back of the net. It was so simple but something you don’t see very often. The Devils would eventually win the Stanley Cup Championship and a dynasty was on its way.
2012 1st Round Game 7 vs. Florida Panthers: Adam Henrique scores
These two teams had just played an overtime game with the Devils coming out on top to stay alive. This led to a Game 7 for the ages. Martin Brodeur, at 40 years old, and Jose Theodore, at 35 years old, were trying to carry their teams to the next round by themselves. Brodeur stopped 43 shots to give his team a chance to get here.
The Devils made it to double OT while holding on to their playoff lives. That’s when Adam Henrique began his legacy. He just threw the puck towards the net from in between the circles, and miraculously it went in. Theodore never really saw it as it through his five hole.
Henrique would make even more history later, but this was an insane goal in its own right. Henrique batted the puck out of the air, through a defenders legs, to himself and turned around for an immediate shot. The amount of focus it takes for a rookie to do that in the biggest moment takes ice in his veins.
The Devils ended up going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals that season, beating their two biggest rivals along the way. However, if it wasn’t for Brodeur and Henrique, it ends with yet another first-round exit.
2012 ECF Game 6 vs. New York Rangers: Adam Henrique scores again
It was really hard to keep this from the top spot, but what happens there is a once in a generation moment. However, this was a similar moment. The Devils, taking on their biggest rival and perceived big brother in the New York Rangers, beat them in overtime as a rookie puts the top seed in the Eastern Conference away. Henrique, it’s over will live on in Devils history forever.
There are a million recaptures of this moment. When something this iconic happens, everyone wants to talk about it. The Devils were going shot for shot against the Rangers the entire series, and they took a 3-2 lead into The Rock for Game 6. If they lost this game, it was back to Madison Square Garden for Game 7. Devils fans have been there before, and last time it didn’t end pretty. The Devils wouldn’t need Game 7 this time, and they sent the Rangers home early.
Henrique was the hero again. He parked behind Henrik Lundqvist as Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexei Ponikarovsky both keep putting the puck on net. Eventually, the puck trickles past Lundqvist, and Henrique just dumps it home. It should be the greatest goal in Devils history, but when the team literally scores a goal to win the Stanley Cup in walk-off fashion, that can’t be beaten.
2000 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 vs. Dallas Stars: Jason Arnott scores
If moments were steak, this is filet mignon. It was perfect. The Devils were coming off a devastating triple-overtime loss at home in Game 5. Losing another game with multiple overtimes would be impossible to bounce back from in Game 7. This was as much a must win as they come, and the Devils stars stepped up when it mattered most.
Petr Sykora was stretchered off the ice earlier in the game, taking one element away from the “A” line. The other two players, Patrik Elias and Jason Arnott were responsible for ending the game, the series, the season, and the hopes of Dallas Stars fans. Elias went to the corner to corral the puck. He made a no-look backhanded pass right on the tape for Arnott. He delivered the puck home for a championship.
It was just the fourth time the Stanley Cup was decided in overtime. This one was special for Devils fans, who were still hearing the calls of “The Trap” and needed to show they could win any brand of hockey. This was a team with one of the highest-scoring offenses and one of the best defenses in the NHL. They still needed double overtime to beat the Stars, who were attempting to build a dynasty of their own.
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This goal is the most unforgettable in all of Devils history. The elation fans felt as it went in, only to be able to soak it in for the next hour while the handshake line and the Cup presentation followed. Everything about this was perfect.
