30+ Joe Sakic “clutch” playoff goals in chronological order, with context for each goal (1993-2001 in OP, 2002-2008 in comments)

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1. 2002-2008: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWhxcFt_JD0

   We all know Sakic is captain clutch, but wanted to provide more of a comprehensive set of his clutch scoring in the playoffs.

   Had to split it up into 2 videos, first one covers Sakic’s 1993-2001 playoff runs (and 2 Cups), the one above in this comment covers 2002-2008. His late career may have actually been more clutch in some ways. I do have time codes in each video for each playoff year.

   Apologize for the quality, but we are talking 90s/early 2000s here.

   **Criteria for “clutch goals”**

   For looking for “clutch” goals, there was a bit of an exact science for this to start, which was if Sakic scored a goal that either tied the game or put the Nordiques/Avs ahead in either the 3rd period or OT, I included it in these videos. He scored 19 of these goals in his playoff career, which is 2nd all-time to Brett Hull’s 20 (and Hull played 30 more playoff games than Sakic). Sakic of course also has the record for OT playoff goals at 8.

   Most of the time, Sakic scoring in these videos means the Avs won the game, but occasionally it doesn’t. Game 7 in 2003 for example, Sakic scored to make it 2-1 Avs with less than 7 minutes left, but they ended up losing 3-2 in OT. I don’t think what happened after makes it any less clutch per se, it’s still just scoring in critical situations. Conversely, all 19 of his game-winning goals (3rd all time to Gretzky and Hull, again with 30+ more games played than Sakic) are not in this video. Some of those were scored early in the game and didn’t feel as natural to include here.

   Outside of the go-ahead/tying goals in the 3rd/OT, I also have a mix of goals in here that were more so “foot on the throat” goals, where Sakic provided insurance for the Avs to bury an opponent and the occasional non-3rd period game-winner, but I mostly kept those to clinching/elimination games or Cup Final games. The most famous example of this type of goal is Sakic’s snipe against Brodeur in the 2nd period of Game 7 in 2001 to make it 3-0 Avalanche, en route to their 2nd Cup. On the flip side, I also included some “rallying” goals, where Sakic brought the Avs to within 1 at an opportune time. Sometimes this means the Avs came back to tie the game and win it, other times it didn’t. Regardless, him scoring gave them a shot in these games, it’s not like scoring with 2 seconds left as a meaningless goal.

   There are a couple of hat tricks in here where his 2nd/3rd goals came at a critical time in the game. I included all 3 goals in this scenario, even if the first one wasn’t exactly “clutch” because it just tells more of the story of the game.

   Some of these will go by quickly, but if the opportunity afforded itself (often the case later in his career with better video) I left in some commentary. I particularly like the 1995 hat trick commentary, with the narrative of him only playing in 7 playoff games 7 years into his career. And then contrast that with the end of his career where you just hear the repeated “when they need him to score, he’s there to do it”, which has legit merit to it.

   I think the most notable absence for this is 1999 in general, which was still a really good run for Sakic. He had 6-13-19 in 19 games, but weirdly enough, none of those goals felt right to include. He has a lot of clutch assists as well (2nd all-time in OT assists, for example), but wanted to just go with goals for this.