Playoff game performances

Mario Lemieux had 172 points in 107 career playoff games. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI)

Adam Proteau
2011-04-20 15:16:00

Coming off a serious concussion, Blackhawks center David Bolland helped power his team past Vancouver in Game 4 of their first round playoff series Tuesday night with a one-goal, four-point effort. Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk had the same type of performance in Detroit’s Game 2 win over Phoenix. But neither player pushed themselves into the NHL record book for most points in a single post-season game.

Here are the most productive performances in playoff history (players may only appear once):

10. Johan Franzen, Detroit, May 6, 2010

One of the most dangerous current Wings players, Franzen had four goals and two assists in Detroit’s 7-1 win over San Jose.

9. Dickie Moore, Montreal, March 25, 1954

The Hall of Famer had six points - a pair of goals and four helpers - in the Canadiens’ 8-1 demolishing of Boston.

8. Geoff Courtnall, St. Louis, April 23, 1998

In the Blues’ 8-3 victory over Los Angeles, Courtnall posted five assists and added a goal for a six-point night.

7. Mikko Leinonen, N.Y. Rangers, April 8, 1982

Hardly a household name, Leinonen assisted on all but one of the Blueshirts’ goals in New York’s 7-3 steamrolling of the Philadelphia Flyers.

6. Phil Esposito, Boston, April 2, 1969

Esposito was just 27 when he notched four goals and six points to help the Bruins to a 10-0 shellacking of Toronto.

5. Guy Lafleur, Montreal, April 11, 1977

‘The Flower’ was never more dangerous in the playoffs than the night he had a hat trick of goals and assists to power the Canadiens to a 7-2 win over St. Louis.

4. Darryl Sittler, Toronto, April 22, 1976

Sittler, who holds the record for points in a regular season game (10), had a whopping five goals and six points in the Leafs’ 8-5 win over Philly.

3. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton, April 9, 1987

Playing against the L.A. Kings, ‘The Great One’ exploded for six assists and a goal in the Oilers’ 13-3 victory. Gretzky had two other seven-point playoff games prior to this contest and is the only NHLer in history to have finished with seven in a single game.

2. Patrick Sundstrom, New Jersey, April 22, 1988

In the Devils’ 10-4 rout of the Washington Capitals, Sundstrom registered a hat trick while also chipping in with five assists for eight points.

1. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh, April 25, 1989

One of the greatest players in league history, Lemieux posted an eight-point night with five goals and three assists in a wild 10-7 shootout against the Flyers.

The THN.com Top 10 appears Wednesdays only on TheHockeyNews.com.

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