May 13 in Hockey

# May 13 in Hockey History

May 13 has been a date marked by individual excellence and playoff intensity throughout NHL history. From dominant offensive performances spanning decades to modern-era milestones, this calendar date reveals patterns of peak performance during the sport's most consequential periods.

Individual Performances Define the Date

The most striking characteristic of May 13 is the clustering of multi-point performances, particularly among forwards tasked with carrying playoff momentum. In 1995, two separate performances exemplified playoff intensity: Theo Fleury recorded a 5-point night (4G, 1A) for the Calgary Flames against the San Jose Sharks, while Brendan Shanahan contributed 4 points (3G, 1A) for the Vancouver Canucks against the St. Louis Blues on the same date. These simultaneous eruptions highlight how May 13 has consistently fallen during second-round playoff hockey when teams are fully engaged in their runs.

The historical record extends further back. On May 13, 1987, Glenn Anderson demonstrated the value of playmaking with a 5-assist performance—a pure facilitator's contribution that shaped his Edmonton Oilers' trajectory during that era. Earlier, in 1975, Rick MacLeish scored 3 goals for the Philadelphia Flyers against the New York Islanders, marking an early example of the single-game dominance this date would witness.

More recently, on May 13, 2025, Mikael Granlund of the Dallas Stars scored 3 goals against the Winnipeg Jets, maintaining the date's tradition of offensive firepower during playoff contests.

Playoff Contests Shape Recent History

Since 2022, May 13 has become increasingly significant as a playoff date, with the second round typically unfolding during this period. The 2025 matchup between Dallas and Winnipeg resulted in a 3-1 Stars victory at American Airlines Center, representing Dallas's dominance in their series. The previous year's slate included a 5-3 victory by the New York Rangers over Pittsburgh and a 4-3 Florida Panthers win over Washington—contests that exemplified competitive playoff hockey.

The 2023 postseason featured a high-scoring affair when the Seattle Kraken defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 at Climate Pledge Arena, while 2022 saw Colorado's dominant 5-1 victory over Dallas at Ball Arena. The prevalence of Dallas involvement in recent May 13 contests suggests the Stars' consistent playoff positioning during this calendar window.

Longevity Milestone

Beyond individual performances, May 13, 2021 witnessed Braden Holtby reach the 700-game milestone in his NHL career—a significant durability achievement for a goaltender who navigated multiple franchise tenures including stops in Washington and Dallas. This career marker represents the staying power required to compete at the highest level across two decades of NHL evolution.

By the Numbers