NHL ’94 “Game of the Night” Sharks @ Leafs “1994 Western Conference Semi Finals” game 7

The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL), began after the conclusion of the 1993–94 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven game series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships; and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup. The playoffs ended when the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh game of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. In total, an NHL record seven game sevens were played in this year’s playoffs, two of which went to overtime.
For the first time since joining the NHL, all four former WHA teams (the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets) failed to make the playoffs. Wayne Gretzky also missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. Conversely, the San Jose Sharks became the first post-1990 expansion team to make the playoffs. All series played between Central and Pacific Division teams had a 2–3–2 format to reduce travel. This remains the last time that two Canadian teams made it to the Conference Finals in the same year, let alone faced each other in that particular round.
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions – 100 points
Calgary Flames, Pacific Division champions – 97 points
Toronto Maple Leafs – 98 points
Dallas Stars – 97 points
St. Louis Blues – 91 points
Chicago Blackhawks – 87 points
Vancouver Canucks – 85 points
San Jose Sharks – 82 points
(3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (8) San Jose Sharks
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

May 2 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap
May 4 San Jose Sharks 1–5 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap
May 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 San Jose Sharks San Jose Arena Recap
May 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 8–3 San Jose Sharks San Jose Arena Recap
May 10 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 San Jose Sharks San Jose Arena Recap
May 12 San Jose Sharks 2–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap
May 14 San Jose Sharks 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap
Toronto won series 4–3