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.

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

With the Canucks missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year, we'll have to wait at least another year before a Game 7 overtime opportunity presents itself and this peculiar pattern can be tested again.

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