Winning goal in the fifth extra time

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Finally won - the game dragged on for more than six hours

The jubilation after the redeeming goal was like a championship celebration, although Brayden Point had "only" decided the first playoff game. But that was tough: the ice hockey match in Toronto lasted 150 minutes and 27 seconds, and Point did not finish the fourth-longest playoff match in NHL history until the fifth extension. The cheers of the Tampa Bay Lightning after the 3-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets echoed through the empty area for a long time.

"I don't know how many guys have been in a game for so long. But that was definitely something special," said Point, whose goal was the result of the 151st shot by both teams, the highest figure on record. "It's tiring for sure, but at some point it's fun. It was definitely an exciting game," said Point.

The outcome was particularly bitter for Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who set a record for the most saves in a playoff game with 85 saved shots. However, the Finn was powerless with the tailor-made flick over his shoulder on the side of the stick hand. His teammate Seth Jones, however, should have longed for an ice bucket after the defeat. The defender was the longest on the ice at 65 minutes and 6 seconds - and it was the sixth game in nine days for Columbus.

Detroit and Montreal hold the record

Not much was missing before the record: The longest encounter in the NHL in 1936 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons lasted 176:30 minutes. The record in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) is held by the Kölner Haie and the Adler Mannheim. The Haie prevailed on the night of March 22nd to 23rd, 2008 in the sixth extension after 168 minutes and 16 seconds.

The game also had an impact on the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes, who were supposed to play their first round of 16 best-of-seven series afterwards. However, since the marathon match had previously lasted a total of six hours and 13 minutes, the Bruins and Canes were only allowed to intervene in the playoffs on Wednesday morning 11 a.m. local time.

After a short regeneration, the Lightning and Blue Jackets will start their second game on Thursday.

aha / sid