When Cam Atkinson scored for the Columbus Blue Jackets 11 seconds into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was the 10th-fastest goal to start a playoff game in NHL history.
It might seem hard to believe that nine players in League history could score faster, but here are the 10 fastest goals to start a playoff game.
1. 6 seconds
Don Kozak, Los Angeles Kings
Game 4, Quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins; April 17, 1977
Kozak scored on a breakaway six seconds after the opening faceoff when he intercepted a pass at Boston's blue line and deked around goalie Gerry Cheevers. Los Angeles wins 7-4 to avoid elimination.
T2. 7 seconds
Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
Game 6, Semifinals vs. New York Islanders; May 5, 1977
Gainey, known more for his defensive skills, gave the Canadiens a quick lead by beating Islanders goaltender Glenn Resch. Gainey scored again midway through the third period and Ken Dryden made 27 saves in a 2-1 series-clinching victory that sent Montreal into the Stanley Cup Final against Boston.
T2. 7 seconds
Terry Murray, Philadelphia Flyers
Game 4, NHL Preliminary Round vs. Quebec Nordiques; April 12, 1981
Murray caught a break when his slap shot hit the end boards and bounced into the feet of Nordiques goalie Dan Bouchard. He fumbled the puck, it hit his stick and went into the net. The Flyers led 3-1 after two periods but Quebec rallied to force overtime. Dale Hunter scored 37 seconds into OT to give the Nordiques their first NHL overtime win.
4. 8 seconds
Stan Smyl, Vancouver Canucks
Game 1, Smythe Division Semifinals vs. Calgary Flames; April 7, 1982
After the Canucks control the opening faceoff, forward Curt Fraser chipped a pass that hit Calgary defenseman Brad Marsh and fell to linemate Thomas Gradin. He one-touched a pass to Smyl, whose one-timer went past Calgary goalie Pat Riggin. The early goal started the Canucks on their way to a victory and a sweep of the best-of-5 series.
T5. 9 seconds
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Game 5, Semifinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs; April 1, 1954
Howe scored the first of two goals when he took the rebound off Alex Delvecchio's shot and beat Toronto goalie Harry Lumley. He broke the record for fastest goal from the start of a game set seven days earlier by Montreal's Dickie Moore.
T5. 9 seconds
Kenny Wharram, Chicago Blackhawks
Game 4, Semifinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs; April 13, 1967
Wharram tied Howe's record for the fastest goal to start a playoff game when he took a pass from defenseman Doug Mohns and beat Toronto goalie Terry Sawchuk. Chicago went on to even the series with a 4-3 victory, although the Maple Leafs won the next two games to advance to the Final.
T5. 9 seconds
Derek Roy, Buffalo Sabres
Game 4, Eastern Conference Final vs. Ottawa Senators; May 16, 2007
The Sabres, seeking a spark after losing the first three games of the series to Ottawa, got one from Roy. He pressured defenseman Andrej Meszaros at the Ottawa blue line and redirected his pass to Buffalo forward Chris Drury, who found Roy for a perfect redirection past Ray Emery. The Sabres stayed alive with a 3-2 win.
T8. 10 seconds
Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens
Game 2, Semifinals vs. Boston Bruins; March 25, 1954
Moore's goal 10 seconds into the game was the first of five by the Canadiens in the first period at the Forum. Montreal won 8-1 and went on to sweep the Bruins.
T8. 10 seconds
John Byce, Boston Bruins
Game 3, Stanley Cup Final vs. Edmonton Oilers; May 20, 1990
Byce, seven weeks removed from helping the University of Wisconsin win the NCAA championship, started the game on Boston's top line with Cam Neely and Craig Janney. He forced defenseman Kevin Lowe into a turnover, went to the net and shot the rebound of Neely's backhand shot past goaltender Bill Ranford. The Bruins won 2-1.
10. 11 seconds
Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets
Game 3, Eastern Conference First Round vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; April 16, 2017
Atkinson scored on the second shot of Columbus' first home playoff game since April 28, 2014. He put the rebound of Brandon Dubinsky's shot past Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury into the net to give the Blue Jackets their first lead of the series. Atkinson scored again later in the period, but the Blue Jackets couldn't hold a 3-1 lead and lost 5-4 in overtime.
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