Longest games in hockey history

02 Mar 2013 | Alan Ilijic

These guys gave their best! These guys went beyond their capabilities to win a single game of hockey. They played more than just a hockey game - they created history! Following a new league record set in the KHL for the longest hockey game, we bring you the longest ones in the history of the sport we all love.

We'll start off with the NHL, as the longest game ever was played there.

NHL

1. Detroit Red Wings - Montreal Maroons 1-0 (Mud Bruneteau)

March 24, 1936: 116:30 of overtime

It was tied and scoreless after three periods of play and it was the first game in a best-of-five semifinals. The 6th overtime was coming to an end when Mud Bruneteau scored for the Red Wings to give them the first win in the series after what has really been, superhuman effort. Later, the Red Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs - Boston Bruins 1-0 (Ken Doraty)

April 3, 1933: 104:46 of overtime

Another six-overtime marathon. Ken Doraty scores to decide the best-of-five semifinals and take the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the New York Rangers.

3. Philadelphia Flyers - Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 (Keith Pimeau)

May 4, 2000: 92:01 of overtime

Keith Primeau of the Flyers put a shot over the left shoulder of the Penguins goalie Ron Tugnutt with 7:59 remaining in the 5th overtime period, ending the longest game since 1936.It tied the second-round series at two. Flyers won the next two games, but then blew a 3-1 series lead to New Jersey Devils and lost the Eastern Conference Finals.

4. Anaheim Ducks - Dallas Stars 4-3 (Petr Sykora)

April 24, 2003: 80:48 of overtime

Less than a minute into the 5th period, Petr Sykora scored to give the Ducks a win in Game 1 of second-round series. Anaheim went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to New Jersey Devils.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins - Washington Capitals 3-2 (Petr Nedved)

April 24, 1996: 79:15 of overtime

Petr Nedved's goal in the 4th overtime tied the opening-round series at two games aside. The Penguins went on to win the series, but then lost to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Europe

In German top ice-hockey league, DEL, the longest game took place between Kölner Haie and Adler Mannheim on March 22, 2008. After 5 overtime periods the score was tied at 4 goals each. Then, in the 6th, after 108:16 of overtime had elapsed, Philip Gogulla scores to give the Haie a 5-4 win. That is the longest one played in Europe.

In the KHL a new record has been set this season. Officially, the longest hockey game ever played in the KHL is Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals between Severstal Cherepovets and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. It took 58:47 of overtime to get the winner of this one, and Severstal took the lead of the series 3-1, with a 3:2 win. The goal came through Denis Kazionov.

In Sweden, the longest game of 5 overtime periods was played on March 20, 2002. It was playoffs to Kvalserien, the qualification tournament for the top division of Swedish hockey, the Elitserien. After 80:41 of overtime between IF Troja/Ljungby and Bofors IK, Mika Välilä finally scores for IF Troja/Ljungby to give his team a well deserved 2-1 victory.