Ranking the 5 greatest individual NHL playoff runs of all time

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The Sporting News, established in 1886, is celebrating its 140th birthday with a year-long series honoring the greatest moments, teams and players from the last 140 years. We’ve also released SN’s entire archive for free, empowering hockey fans to download iconic print covers of Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe or explore endless rabbit holes to read how your favorite teams were covered in the moment.

The hockey portion of our 140 celebration continues with our picks for the top five greatest individual Stanley Cup playoff runs of all time.

5. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils, 2003​

Brodeur won three Cups in his 22 NHL seasons, mostly with the Devils. But in 2002-03, he was especially sharp, posting three shutouts in the Cup final against the powerful Anaheim Ducks, as well as a stunning seven shutouts that post-season.

Brodeur also put up a save percentage of .934 and a goals-against average of 1.65 in the 2003 playoffs – and that was after making 73 regular-season appearances that year. That says everything about Brodeur’s legend as a workhorse, but at his best, few were better than the Hockey Hall of Famer.

4. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2009​

Malkin won his first of three Cups with the Penguins in the 2008-09 campaign. And he posted 22 assists and 36 points in 24 playoff games to also take home the Conn Smythe Trophy as post-season MVP, becoming the first Russian-born player to do so.

Malkin’s playoff numbers were the best in the league in ‘08-09, and that made him the first player to lead the regular-season and the post-season in points since another legendary Penguins center, Mario Lemieux, did so in 1991-92. Malkin hasn’t committed to another NHL season, but his legacy as an all-time great in Pittsburgh was assured long ago.

MORE: Kyle Dubas On Evgeni Malkin: 'We Would Love To Have Him Back'

3. Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings, 1952​

A phenomenal goalie and Red Wings icon, Sawchuk won four Cups – but in the 1952 playoffs, he was as dominant as we’ve ever seen a goaltender be, registering a minuscule 0.62 GAA and .977 SP, while allowing just five goals in eight games and posting four shutouts in that span.

Sawchuk went 8-0 in the 1951-52 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Sawchuk also won Cups in 1954, 1955, and 1967, but his first Cup win was especially dominant. When he was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1971, Sawchuk richly deserved it. He was a one-man steamroller when he was in peak form, and his 1952 performances stand out as some of the best of any goalie in professional hockey history.

2. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, 1991​

In 1991, the Penguins won their first Cup in franchise history – and in that run to the championship, Lemieux generated 28 assists and 44 points in just 23 games. The Pens would not have won that year’s Cup final were it not for Lemieux.

And while he won more Cups as a Penguins executive than he did as a player, Lemieux’s wizardry was never on fuller display than it was in the 1991 playoffs. He did win another Conn Smythe Trophy the following season, but Lemieux could’ve won it whenever he was healthy as a player. But in 1991, Lemieux and the Pens were stunningly dominant.

MORE: Ranking NHL legend Wayne Gretzky's 5 greatest moments

1. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 1985​

One of the NHL records Gretzky holds includes the league record for most points and assists in a single post-season. In fact, during the 1984-85 season with the Oilers, he posted 30 assists and 47 points in only 18 playoff games. Gretzky did have another post-season in which he posted at least 40 points – and that was when he put up 43 points for the Oilers in only 19 games.

Gretzky was as offensively potent as any NHLer ever has been, and while Gretzky didn’t earn the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1985, he never had as many or more playoff points as he had that year. ‘The Great One’ was great in many ways, and Gretzky saved some of his finest work for the playoffs. He’s always going to hold many records, and Gretzky’s playoff point and assist totals won’t ever be broken.

Gretzky racking up another first-place finish in a list should surprise no one.

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