Canucks Game 7 Overtime & Stanley Cup Finals

A curious correlation has emerged between playing a Game 7 overtime match against the Vancouver Canucks and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Specifically, to date, winning the former has ensured an appearance in the latter.

Prior to the 2015 Playoffs, the Canucks met the Calgary Flames in three such overtime affairs and the Chicago Blackhawks once. Each time the victor qualified for the Cup Finals, hoisting once (1989) and losing three times (1994, 2004, 2011).  Interestingly, each Cup Final loss also occurred in a Game 7.

Year	Matchup	OT Winner
1989	Calgary over Vancouver	Joel Otto
1994	Vancouver over Calgary	Pavel Bure
2004	Calgary over Vancouver	Martin Gelinas
2011	Vancouver over Chicago	Alex Burrows

Tonight the Canucks and Flames skate in Game 6 of their opening round series.  If the Canucks can force a Game 7 and push it to overtime, perhaps history will repeat sending the series winner to the Cup Final.

* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7 History.
* See also Today In NHL History - Kirk McLean's Game 7 Save.