An NHL record was broken in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 1-0 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday in Game 6.
Tampa Bay entered the series trailing 3-2 in the series and had to win on the road to force a Game 7. After a back-and-forth thriller, Gage Concalves scored the OT winner for the Lightning to force a Game 7.
Following the Lightning’s win over the Canadiens, Tampa Bay reporter Evan Closky revealed McDonagh broke the NHL record for most playoff elimination wins with 21.
“Ryan McDonagh has 21 wins in elimination games. A new NHL record. … Ryan McDonagh will play in his 33rd elimination game tonight. He is 20-12 all-time,” Closky wrote on X.
McDonagh has been in the NHL since 2010 and has appeared in 202 career Stanley Cup games. So the veteran defenseman breaking the record shouldn’t be that big of a surprise.
The 36-year-old helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. McDonagh has also made the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons. And has made the postseason in 15 of his 17 NHL seasons.
McDonagh 10th Defenseman to Appear in 200 Playoff Games
Before McDonagh set the record for most Stanley Cup Playoff elimination wins, he appeared in his 200th career playoff game.
McDonagh became just the 10th defenseman in NHL history to appear in 200 Stanley Cup Playoff games and the second from the U.S., joining Chris Chelios.
“I don’t take it for granted, and it’s a good feeling,” McDonagh said of 200 playoff games. “It’s a good thing if you are playing those playoff games, right? You’re part of teams that have a chance to win, and you’re a piece of the puzzle for, hopefully, the ultimate goal…Made a lot of them (postseasons) here and trying to make the most of them.”
McDonagh is a veteran leader for the Lightning, and several players had plenty of praise for him. However, McDonagh said he’s just sharing the wisdom older players gave to him early in his career.
“I’ve always tried to learn from the great leaders that I’ve had before me and teams that have had great leaders on it, you learn from them,” McDonagh said. “When you get to my age, you want to help any way you can. You don’t take it for granted, being in the playoffs. You try to do whatever you can, whether it’s leadership or obviously play on the ice. It’s been instilled for me from the first minute I started in pro (hockey) with great leaders in my locker room. And I’ve tried to carry that on here with this group.”
McDonagh is set to begin a three-year, $12.3 million deal next season.
Lightning ‘Fired Up’ to Force Game 7
Tampa Bay edged out a 1-0 overtime win over the Canadiens on Friday to force a Game 7.
After the game, Goncalves, who scored the overtime winner, spoke on the Sportsnet broadcast and had plenty of praise for his team.
“We stayed even-keeled, and we didn’t let it get to us,” Goncalves said on the broadcast. “We just forced a Game 7, so we’re pretty fired up.”
Game 7 is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
Ryan McDonagh Breaks NHL Record in Lightning’s Game 6 Win Over Canadiens