Average number of goals scored in NHL Stanley Cup Finals is 5.83 in the 2022 season. The Colorado Avalanche netted 20 goals against Tampa Bay Lightning.
In the best-of-seven series, Colorado came victorious with a 4-2 win. They won the first two games taking a 2-0 lead, but Tampa Bay hit pass 6 in the third round, making the series 2-1.
After clinching victories in Game Four and Six, the Avalanche secured their third Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
But the 35 goals shared by Colorado and Tampa in that game are far behind the highest total goals scored in the Stanley Cup finals series.
The pinnacle of NHL history regarding goal-scoring was reached in the final of the 1972-73 campaign, where the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Black Hawks smashed the record with 56 goals.
Besides, the Canadiens also holds the record for the most goals in NHL history in a game with 16 goals which they netted in 1920 against Quebec Bulldogs.
Total Goals Scored In Stanley Cup Finals Series
Total goals scored in Stanley Cup Finals series for the past decade from 2012 to 2022 is 330 goals. The 2018-19 season gave the highest number of goals scored in the final game of the last ten seasons.
The St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins went head-to-head in a fierce and competitive best-of-seven series that ultimately required a decisive game seven to determine the eventual winner after both teams gave their all in a thrilling showdown on the ice.
The Blues eventually emerged victorious in the final game on June 12, 2019, at TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts with a 4-1 win and winning the series 4-3.
However, in seven games, the losing team Bruins scored more goals with 22 against St. Louis' 18 making a total of 40 goals. The Russian right winger Vladimir Tarasenko scored three goals and gave one assist for the Blues in the finals.
Here is the list of the total goals scored in Stanley Cup finals in the last decade from 2012 to the most recent 2022.
- Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning 2022 - 35 Goals
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens 2021 - 25 Goals
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Dallas Stars 2020 - 33 Goals
- St. Louis Blues vs Boston Bruins 2019 - 40 Goals
- Washington Capitals vs Vegas Golden Knights 2018 - 34 Goals
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs Nashville Predators 2017 - 32 Goals
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks 2016 - 27 Goals
- Chicago Blackhawks vs Tampa Bay Lightning 2015 - 23 Goals
- Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers 2014 - 25 Goals
- Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins 2013 - 32 Goals
- Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils 2012 - 24 Goals
Based on the legend above, the 2021-22 finals have 35 goals standing second in the list with the most goals over the decade.
In stark contrast, the 2014-15 season marked a striking departure from the norm, with a record-low total of just 23 goals scored across the entire six-game series. The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup with a 4–2 series victory over Tampa Bay Lightning.
Though Tampa Bay, one of the richest NHL teams lost the opportunity to win their second league title in their history in 2015, head coach Jon Cooper led the team to consecutive cup triumphs in 2020 and 2021.
Moreover, although the 2019 finals with 40 goals is the highest in the past ten years, it is not the highest average total goals scored in Stanley Cup finals.
The 2018 encounter between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights produced fewer goals, with only 34 in total, but it saw an average of 6.8 goals scored per game, which eclipsed the average of 5.71 goals per game in the 2019 series.
How Many Goals Scored in Stanley Cup Finals?
The 1973 matchup between Montreal Canadians and Chicago Blackhawks featured 56 goals, the most in Stanley Cup Finals.
The competition has been characterized by varying levels of goal-scoring output from season to season, with each year bringing unique offensive displays.
The 1973 Stanley Cup Final series between Montreal (33) and Chicago (23) are etched into NHL history for its impressive goal-scoring display, with the two teams combining for a jaw-dropping 56 goals throughout the series, the most ever seen in any Final series of any length.
After a tooth-and-nail battle, the Canadiens emerged victorious, winning the series in six games. The average total goals in Stanley Cup finals in 1973 is 9.33, among the most in league history.
Below is the catalog of the Most Goals scored in Stanely Cup Finals since the start of the league in 1915.
- Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks 1973 - 56 Goals
- New York Islanders vs Philadelphia Flyers 1980 - 51 Goals
- Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Canadiens 1955 - 47 Goals
- Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers 2010 - 47 Goals
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs Minnesota North Stars 1991 - 44 Goals
- New York Islanders vs Minnesota North Stars 1981 - 42 Goals
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings 1942 - 42 Goals
The first iteration in 1915 still holds the record for the highest average goals scored in Stanley Cup finals with 11.33 goals scored in three-game series. Vancouver Millionaires netted 26 goals against the Ottawa Senators 8, in a high-scoring affair.
The New York Islanders' glory days in the early 80s gave them four back-to-back championship titles along with two high-scoring games in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 1980 Final series between the Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers proved to be an intense matchup racking up a combined total of 51 goals, as the tally climbed to the second most goals in the NHL Finals chart.
Similarly the following season, the Islanders reached the final second time in a row and they defeated Minnesota North Stars in a nail-biting game of explosive offensive output, with the two teams combining for a staggering total of 42 goals.
While the Stanley Cup has produced its fair share of offensive fireworks over the years, the 47 goals scored in the 2010 edition stand alone as the only entry from the 21st century to earn a place on the league's list of all-time top-scoring championship final series.
On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wings (in 1936) and Toronto Maple Leafs (in 1942) are staged for the most goals scored in a single Stanley Cup Finals game with 9.
Most Goals In A Stanley Cup Finals Game Before 2023
Maurice Richard holds the record for the most goals in Stanley Cup Finals with 34 goals. Maurice achieved the landmark in 58 games in the finals.
The former Montreal Canadiens Right Wing dominated the league with goal-scoring prowess throughout his two-decade-long NHL career.
Upon his retirement in 1960, Maurice stood atop the NHL's all-time scoring leaderboard with a remarkable 544 career goals to his name.
Among his many accomplishments, Richard will forever be remembered as the first player in NHL history to achieve both the 50-goal milestone in a single season (1944-45) and 500 career goals.
- Maurice Richard - 34 Goals
- Jean Beliveau - 30 Goals
- Bernie Geoffrion - 24 Goals
- Yvan Cournoyer - 21 Goals
- Henri Richard - 21 Goals
- Jacques Lemaire - 19 Goals
- Ted Lindsay - 19 Goals
- Wayne Gretzky - 18 Goals
- Gordie Howe - 18 Goals
- Mike Bossy - 17 Goals
The list by StatMuse shows late Canadian ice hockey player Richard still leading the chart for the most goals in Stanley Cup Finals with 34 goals followed by Jean Beliyeau in second with 30 goals.
Beliyeau, who played in the National League for 20 seasons from 1950 to 1971 with the Montreal Canadiens replicated Maurice's success at the club and on personal terms. In the 64 games he appeared in the Cup finals, Beliveau scored 30 goals.
Henri Richard, who shares the record for the most Stanley Cup Finals appearances with Red Kelly at 65 games, also boasts an impressive 21 goals.
Highest Scorers In Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Wayne Gretzky - 122 Goals
- Mark Messier - 109 Goals
- Jari Kurri - 106 Goals
- Brett Hull - 103 Goals
- Glenn Anderson - 93 Goals
- Mike Bossy - 85 Goals
- Joe Sakic - 84 Goals
- Maurice Richard - 82 Goals
- Claude Lemieux - 80 Goals
- Jean Beliveau - 79 Goals
The former Edmonton Oilers center Wayne Gretzky has the highest number of goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs round with 122 goals. Similarly, Gretzky's 260 assists are also the most in the playoffs.
All Time Leading Scorers NHL
- Gordie Howe - 786 Goals
- Alex Ovechkin - 706 Goals
- Mario Lemieux - 690 Goals
- Joe Sakic - 625 Goals
- Bobby Hull - 604 Goals
