The Streak Continues

Teams to score first in a game that clinches the Stanley Cup are a mind-boggling 35-0 since 1988, including this game where Taylor Hall scored the first goal of the game (although you probably knew Carolina scored the first goal of this game considering it was a shutout. There have been some very wonderful players to put in this first clinching goal. Glenn Anderson, who is especially known for being a money player, scored the first goal in the 1990 SCF for the Edmonton Oilers. Jaromir Jagr scored the first goal in the 1992 SCF to lift the Penguins over the Blackhawks. To end the New York Rangers' long drought, hall-of-famer Brian Leetch scored the first goal in the 1994 SCF. Uwe Krupp scored the only goal in the 1996 SCF in triple overtime to lift the newly-minted Avalanche over the Panthers. 12x All Star Nicklas Lidstrom scored the first goal in the '97 Stanley Cup. Devils legend Scott Niedermayer's short-handed goal was the first in the '00 Stanley Cup. Skipping a bit to the 2010s, future HOFer Patrice Bergeron scored the first goal in that infamous 2011 SCF. KINGS LEGEND DUSTIN BROWN scored the first goal in 2012. Justin Williams in 2014 got both the goal AND the Conn Smythe. This pattern continued with Duncan Keith in 2015. Brian Dumoulin is the active player with the oldest goal in 2016 with the Penguins. Factor (Ryan O'Reilly) had the Smythe and the goal in 2019 for St. Louis as they won their first cup. Brayden Point led the Lightning in playoff scoring with his goal adding to that wondrous pandemic amount in 2020. Ross Colton is the same as Uwe Krupp, the lone goal to win it in 2021. Mark Stone (who YOU saw in THIS game) did it in 2023. Finally, Sam Reinhart's FOUR goals in 2025, including the first, helped Florida win in game 6 of the 2025 SCF. What a list, amirite???