Top 30 NHL Playoff Performances Since 1998

Is this the year that the Washington Capitals are finally going to win it all? If you are a hockey fan than we do not need to explain to you just how important it is for the Capitals to win the Stanley Cup this year. You have watched, year after year, as they have built a rock-star lineup only to fall short of the Stanley Cup Finals, or even the 3rd round.

For casual NHL fans who are just starting to get into hockey, the Washington Capitals are similar to the Los Angeles Chargers (That sounds so disgusting that we hate saying it, sorry LA.) of the NFL or the Orlando Magic of the NBA. They have put together some really great teams but have never won a championship. The three teams are a combined 0-4 in the big game with the Capitals last appearing in the championship game back in 1998.

The Capitals were swept by the Red Wings in 1998

They have had the best record in the NHL over the past two seasons, and it has not even been close, leading the entire league by 5.5 games in 2016 and 4.5 games this past season. But they went cold against the Pittsburgh Penguins last year and ended up losing in the second round. The early exit was a bit of a shock to Caps fans and hopefully they do not repeat that same disappointment this year. They struggled through the first few games but ended up coming through and getting past the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first round of the playoffs this past weekend.

T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin, two of the Capitals best players, are having themselves quite the postseason this year. They are among a long list of former, and current, NHL superstars who seem to bring a little something special when it comes to the postseason. It is almost as if these special performers are playing an entirely different game.

Whether it was scoring more goals, assisting teammates in scoring more goals, or just leaving everything they had out on the ice, these men deserve every bit of recognition and respect for the performances they put together those seasons, with many of the players walking away with a Stanley Cup.

Here are the 30 Greatest NHL Postseason Performers since 1998, the last time the Washington Capitals were in the Stanley Cup Finals.

30. Olaf Kolzig, G, WSH

  • Season: 1997-98
  • Games: 21
  • Wins: 12
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Shutouts: 4
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.95
  • Shots Against: 740
  • Saves: 696
  • Save %: 94.1%

29. Johan Franzen, C, DET

  • Season: 2007-08
  • Games: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 13
  • Game-Winning Goals: 5
  • Assists: 5
  • Points: 18
  • Plus/Minus: +13
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.81
    • Assists – 0.31
    • Points – 1.13

28. Miikka Kiprusoff, G, CGY

  • Season: 2003-04
  • Games: 26
  • Wins: 15
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Shutouts: 5
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.85
  • Shots Against: 710
  • Saves: 659
  • Save %: 92.8%

27. Fernando Pisani, C, EDM

  • Season: 2005-06
  • Games: 24
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 14
  • Game-Winning Goals: 5
  • Assists: 4
  • Points: 18
  • Plus/Minus: +4
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.58
    • Assists – 0.17
    • Points – 0.75

26. Tuukka Rask, G, BOS

  • Season: 2012-13
  • Games: 22
  • Wins: 14
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Shutouts: 3
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.88
  • Shots Against: 761
  • Saves: 715
  • Save %: 94%

25. Jeff Carter, C, LAK

  • Season: 2013-14
  • Games: 26
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 10
  • Game-Winning Goals: 1
  • Assists: 15
  • Points: 25
  • Plus/Minus: +5
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.38
    • Assists – 0.58
    • Points – 0.96

24. Ed Belfour, G, DAL

  • Season: 1998-99
  • Games: 23
  • Wins: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Shutouts: 3
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.67
  • Shots Against: 617
  • Saves: 574
  • Save %: 93%

23. Nikita Kucherov, RW, TBL

  • Season: 2015-16
  • Games: 17
  • Results: Lost in Conference Finals
  • Goals: 11
  • Assists: 8
  • Points: 19
  • Plus/Minus: +13
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.65
    • Assists – 0.47
    • Points – 1.12

22. Tyler Johnson, C, TBL

  • Season: 2014-15
  • Games: 26
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 13
  • Game-Winning Goals: 4
  • Assists: 10
  • Points: 23
  • Plus/Minus: +7
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.50
    • Assists –  0.38
    • Points –  0.88

21. Nikolai Khabibulin, G, TBL

  • Season: 2003-04
  • Games: 23
  • Wins: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Shutouts: 5
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.71
  • Shots Against: 598
  • Saves: 558
  • Save %: 93.3%

20. Marian Gaborik, RW, LAK

  • Season: 2013-14
  • Games: 26
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 14
  • Game-Winning Goals: 1
  • Assists: 8
  • Points: 22
  • Plus/Minus: +6
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.54
    • Assists – 0.31
    • Points –  0.85

19. Joe Pavelski, C, SJS

  • Season: 2015-16
  • Games: 24
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 14
  • Game-Winning Goals: 4
  • Assists: 9
  • Points: 23
  • Plus/Minus: +1
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.58
    • Assists – 0.38
    • Points – 0.96

18. Patrick Roy, G, COL

  • Season: 2000-01
  • Games: 23
  • Wins: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Shutouts: 4
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.7
  • Shots Against: 622
  • Saves: 581
  • Save %: 93.4%

17. Joe Sakic, C, COL

  • Season: 2000-01
  • Games: 21
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 13
  • Game-Winning Goals: 3
  • Assists: 13
  • Points: 26
  • Plus/Minus: +6
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.62
    • Assists – 0.62
    • Points – 1.24

16. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR

  • Season: 2011-12
  • Games: 20
  • Wins: 10
  • Results: Lost in Conference Finals
  • Shutouts: 3
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.82
  • Shots Against: 554
  • Saves: 516
  • Save %: 93.1%

15. Dominik Hasek, G, BUF

  • Season: 1998-99
  • Games: 19
  • Wins: 13
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Shutouts: 2
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.77
  • Shots Against: 587
  • Saves: 551
  • Save %: 93.9%

14. Daniel Alfredsson, RW, OTT

  • Season: 2006-07
  • Games: 20
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 14
  • Game-Winning Goals: 4
  • Assists: 8
  • Points: 22
  • Plus/Minus: +4
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.70
    • Assists – 0.40
    • Points – 1.10

13. Joe Nieuwendyk, C, DAL

  • Season: 1998-99
  • Games: 23
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 11
  • Game-Winning Goals: 6
  • Assists: 10
  • Points: 21
  • Plus/Minus: +7
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.48
    • Assists – 0.43
    • Points –  0.91

12. Alex Ovechkin, LW, WSH

  • Season: 2008-09
  • Games: 14
  • Results: Lost in Conference Semi-Finals
  • Goals: 11
  • Game-Winning Goals: 1
  • Assists: 10
  • Points: 21
  • Plus/Minus: +10
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.79
    • Assists – 0.71
    • Points – 1.50

11. Marian Hossa, RW, PIT

  • Season: 2007-08
  • Games: 20
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 12
  • Game-Winning Goals: 2
  • Assists: 14
  • Points: 26
  • Plus/Minus: +8
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.60
    • Assists – 0.70
    • Points – 1.30

10. Henrik Zetterberg, LW, DET

  • Season: 2007-08
  • Games: 22
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 13
  • Game-Winning Goals: 4
  • Assists: 14
  • Points: 27
  • Plus/Minus: +16
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.59
    • Assists – 0.64
    • Points – 1.23

9. Tim Thomas, G, BOS

  • Season: 2010-11
  • Games: 25
  • Wins: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Shutouts: 4
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.98
  • Shots Against: 849
  • Saves: 798
  • Save %: 94%

8. Brad Richards, C, TBL

  • Season: 2003-04
  • Games: 23
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 12
  • Game-Winning Goals: 7
  • Assists: 14
  • Points: 26
  • Plus/Minus: +5
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.52
    • Assists – 0.61
    • Points – 1.13

7. Daniel Briere, C, PHI

  • Season: 2009-10
  • Games: 23
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 12
  • Game-Winning Goals: 4
  • Assists: 18
  • Points: 30
  • Plus/Minus: +5
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.52
    • Assists – 0.78
    • Points – 1.30

6. Logan Couture, C, SJS

  • Season: 2015-16
  • Games: 24
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Goals: 10
  • Game-Winning Goals: 2
  • Assists: 20
  • Points: 30
  • Plus/Minus: +5
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.42
    • Assists – 0.83
    • Points – 1.25

5. J.S. Giguere, G, ANA

  • Season: 2002-03
  • Games: 21
  • Wins: 15
  • Results: Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
  • Shutouts: 5
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.62
  • Shots Against: 697
  • Saves: 659
  • Save %: 94.5%

4. Dominik Hasek, G, DET

  • Season: 2001-02
  • Games: 23
  • Wins: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Shutouts: 6
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.86
  • Shots Against: 562
  • Saves: 517
  • Save %: 92%

3. Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT

  • Season: 2008-09
  • Games: 24
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 14
  • Game-Winning Goals: 3
  • Assists: 22
  • Points: 36
  • Plus/Minus: +3
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.58
    • Assists – 0.92
    • Points – 1.50

2. Martin Brodeur, G, NJD

  • Season: 2002-03
  • Games: 24
  • Wins: 16
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Shutouts: 7
  • Goals Against Avg: 1.65
  • Shots Against: 622
  • Saves: 581
  • Save %: 93.4%

1. Sidney Crosby, C, PIT

  • Season: 2008-09
  • Games: 24
  • Results: Stanley Cup Champions
  • Goals: 15
  • Game-Winning Goals: 2
  • Assists: 16
  • Points: 31
  • Plus/Minus: +9
  • Per Game Averages:
    • Goals – 0.63
    • Assists – 0.67
    • Points – 1.29