During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for April 30th, featuring the 2013-14 Los Angeles Kings.
Today in Hockey History
The 2013-14 Los Angeles Kings Rally From 0-3 Hole
2014: The Kings complete a historic comeback with a 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarter-finals. Los Angeles is the fourth team to turn around an 0-3 deficit. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards become the first players to accomplish the feat twice. Both were members of the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers that did the same thing.
Jonathan Quick also reverts to his old form making 39 saves in the clincher. He only gave up five goals in the four wins after allowing 16 in the three losses.
On the same night, the New York Rangers are the first team to win a Game 7 in three straight post-seasons. They beat the Flyers, 2-1, in the decider of the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals. Henrik Lundqvist makes 26 saves to push the Rangers into the next round.
Nino Niederreiter helps the Minnesota Wild rally past the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of their first-round series. Minnesota is the first team to score three game-tying goals in a Game 7.
Other Notable Events
1970: The St. Louis Blues book their third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance with a Game 6 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bill McCreary gets a goal and two assists in the 4-3 victory.
1972: Ken Hodge nets his only post-season hat trick in the Boston Bruins 6-5 win over the Rangers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. It’s the first time the Rangers and Bruins square off in the Final in 43 years.
1986: Steve Smith has a rotten end to his birthday as he scores on his own net in Game 7. Smith’s blunder gives the Calgary Flames a 3-2 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division Final.
1992: The Detroit Red Wings are the ninth team to overturn a 1-3 hole to win Game 7 of the Norris semifinals. Tim Cheveldae stops 29 shots in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota North Stars.
1994: San Jose stuns top-seeded Detroit in its first playoff series with a 3-2 win in Game 7. Jamie Baker takes advantage of a Chris Osgood mistake with 6:35 to go in regulation. The Sharks win the West quarterfinals series, four games to three.
2008: Patrick Marleau is the first player to score shorthanded goals on consecutive days. Marleau’s goal proves to be the game-winner in a 2-1 Sharks win over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
2013: Alex Steen scores the first shorthanded overtime winner in post-season history. Steen’s goal 12:36 into overtime helps the Blues past the Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
2019: Logan Couture‘s hat trick helps San Jose past Colorado in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-finals. The Sharks beat the Avalanche by a score of 4-2.
Happy Birthday to You
1929: Fleming MacKell
1934: Don McKenney
1940: Dale Rolfe
1963: Steve Smith
1966: Jeff Brown
1991: Chris Kreider
