May 22 in Hockey

# May 22 in Hockey History

May 22 stands as a notable date in NHL playoff history, marked by recurring themes of dominant performances and offensive explosions across multiple decades. The data reveals fascinating patterns: an unusual concentration of hat tricks by individual players and a remarkable presence of Florida Panthers playoff games in recent years.

The Hat Trick Tradition

One of the most striking patterns in May 22 history involves players recording three-goal performances. Four instances span three decades, demonstrating that this date has consistently produced individual offensive showcases during playoff competition.

**Esa Tikkanen** initiated this trend on May 22, 1988, when he scored three goals for the Boston Bruins against the Edmonton Oilers. Decades later, **Brian Leetch** matched this feat on May 22, 1995, registering three goals for the Philadelphia Flyers against the New York Rangers in a playoff matchup.

The pattern continued into the modern era. **Colton Sissons** recorded a three-goal performance for the Nashville Predators on May 22, 2017, against the Anaheim Ducks. Most recently, **Evander Kane** of the Edmonton Oilers scored three goals on May 22, 2022, in a playoff game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place.

The Florida Panthers' May 22 Presence

Perhaps the most striking observation involves the Florida Panthers' significant presence on May 22 in recent playoff history. Between 2022 and 2025, the Panthers appeared in multiple May 22 playoff contests, establishing this date as particularly significant to their franchise timeline.

In 2022, the Panthers faced elimination-style pressure, losing 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. The following year, on May 22, 2023, the Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 in a closely contested playoff game at FLA Live Arena. This competitive series between the Atlantic Division rivals continued into 2025, with the Panthers dominating the Hurricanes 5-0 at Lenovo Center.

The Panthers also faced the New York Rangers on May 22, 2024, when they shut out the Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden, extending their May 22 playoff success.

Eastern Conference Dominance

Beyond individual performances, May 22 playoff games have frequently featured Eastern Conference teams. The New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights all appeared in May 22 contests across the 2021-2022 seasons.

Notably, on May 22, 2021, the Minnesota Wild were defeated 4-0 by the Vegas Golden Knights at Xcel Energy Center, while the New York Islanders defeated Pittsburgh 4-1 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum the same date.

By the Numbers