With all deference to what Matthew Tkachuk has accomplished so far in the series with Carolina, this much is certain: If the goal in Game Two had rightfully been credited to Ray Ferraro instead of Brian Mullen, Ray's string of three straight OT game-winners would have been unprecedented in NHL history.
You can have a lot of thrills in this game, but it doesn't get any better than overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- Ray Ferraro
For my money there were precious few more enjoyable hockey springs than the May three decades ago.
I can thank Ray Ferraro -- among many Islanders -- for the springtime pleasure. But, as you shall see, Our Raymond was in a class by himself.
The Overtime Class. Two in a row for sure; and likely three straight!
But I'll get to that in a moment. Suffice to say that what Ferraro accomplished over three playoff games against the Washington Capitals exceeded -- in some ways -- the wonderful double-dip just now pulled off by Florida's Matthew Tkachuk.
For Al Arbour's skaters, the first 1993 playoff round began ominously. The D.C. skaters, playing before a home crowd at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, punished the Visitors, 3-1.
Radar was so angry that he cancelled the next day's practice and lectured his troops with rare invective. The result was positive. In Game Two, the Isles held on 4-4, forcing a first overtime. And then a second sudden-death session and, this time the Isles prevailed.
Now here's the rub: According to the official NHL scorer, Brian Mullen tallied the winning goal at 14:50 of the second overtime. However an important BUT must be considered.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBdr1NGVroE[/embed]
According to the Islanders Official 25-year history, "It looked like Ray Ferraro got the last whack at the puck."
Now, assuming that the Isles own history is correct, the overtime goal should have been awarded to Ferraro. And, having covered the series, I agree. (One for Ray.)
Game Three featured an Islanders comeback from a 3-1 deficit. The 3-3 tie went into overtime and, once again, the Islanders prevailed. Plus, it was deja vu all over again.
Benoit Hogue's pin-point centering pass to a cutting Ferraro was banged home by Ray for a 4-3 win. Ferraro was on fire.
Ferraro: "Right now I'm handling the puck really well and I'm playing well in front of the net. It's like when a hitter goes on a hot streak in baseball."
Unofficially -- but by The Maven's count -- Ferraro already had two straight sudden death goals. Now, could he make a three-OT hat trick out of it?
Game Four of the series was the 200th playoff game in franchise history and symbolic of the team's comeback culture. This time the Nassaumen were down 3-0 only to push back and tie the count at 3-3.
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Once again, the teams battled into a second overtime and who do you think delivered the goods? Yes, it was little, compact, Ferraro who scored the game-winner at 4:46. It all came about when Claude Loiselle found Ray wide open in the slot.
"This is Ray's season right now," said teammate Derek King.
And with all deference to what Matthew Tkachuk has accomplished so far in the series with Carolina, this much is certain: If the goal in Game Two had rightfully been credited to Ferraro instead of Mullen, Ray's string of three straight OT game-winners would have been unprecedented in NHL history.
Which is why I still cherish Ray Ferraro's deathless comments on his rare achievement:
"You can have a lot of thrills in this game, but it doesn't get any better than overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs!"
Now, Matthew Tkachuk is underlining Ray's point right before our very eyes!