NHL History: Martin Gelinas ends third playoff series in overtime

It was on this day in NHL history that Calgary Flames forward, Martin Gelinas, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat the Detroit Red Wings and move his team into the Western Conference Finals.

On May 3rd, 2004, Martin Gelinas earned the nickname ‘The Eliminator’ after he became the only player in NHL history to close out three separate playoff series in overtime. Game 6 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals was obviously a crucial moment in the series as the Red Wings were desperate to tie things up and return to Joe Louis Arena with a chance to finish things off at home. However, this particular contest made it through regulation time in a scoreless tie as both Miikka Kiprusoff and Curtis Joseph stood tall in net, setting Gelinas up to make history and cement himself in the minds and hearts of Calgary hockey fans everywhere. And at 19:13 of the first OT period, Gelinas parked himself in the perfect spot near the net to receive a pass from Jarome Iginla to end the series, moving the Flames forward to face the San Jose Sharks.

This was the third time Gelinas ended a playoff series in overtime with the first coming in 2002 while he was with the Carolina Hurricanes and the second happening in the first round of the 2004 playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks.