The 1968-69 opening-round playoff series between the Los Angeles Kings and the Oakland Seals was as tight as they come, stretching the full seven games. Despite advancing, the Kings were actually outscored 25-23 over the series. Oddly enough, only one game required overtime and it happened right at the very beginning.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Date: April 2, 1969
- 🏒 Game: Kings vs. Seals (Game 1, Quarterfinal)
- ⚡ Overtime Winner: Ted Irvine (0:19)
- 🏆 Record: Fastest OT goal in NHL history (at the time)
- 🔁 Previous Record: Syd Howe (0:25, 1940)
- 🔥 Current Record: Brian Skrudland (0:09, 1986)
Game 1, played on April 2, 1969 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, set the tone early. The Seals carried a 2-1 lead after the first period and held a slim 3–2 edge heading into the third. But the Kings clawed back, with Eddie Joyal scoring twice to flip the game in Los Angeles’ favor at 4-3.
Oakland refused to go quietly. Late in regulation, Gene Ubriaco found the back of the net at 17:22 of the third period, knotting the score at 4-4 and sending the game into sudden-death overtime.
It didn’t take long to settle things. Just 19 seconds into the extra frame, Ted Irvine beat goaltender Gary Smith, with help from Jimmy Peters. The lightning-fast goal set a new NHL record for the quickest overtime tally in league history at the time.
The previous mark had stood for nearly three decades. On March 19, 1940, Syd Howe scored just 25 seconds into overtime for the Detroit Red Wings in a win over the New York Americans.
While Irvine’s record didn’t last forever, it remains a remarkable moment in playoff history. It was eventually surpassed by Brian Skrudland, who scored only nine seconds into overtime for the Montreal Canadiens against the Calgary Flames on May 18, 1986, setting the current benchmark for fastest OT goal.
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