
Ray Ferraro’s heroics mean the ’85-’86 Whalers will now have represented the franchise in all three Ultimate NHL Playoffs. (via Getty Images/B Bennett)
Here is the 2016 Hartford Whalers Qualifying Tournament in its entirety.
It was the 2nd-seeded ’86-’87 Hartford Whalers that took the opening game of the series. On the back of four-point night from Paul Lawless, the ’86-’87 Whalers took Game 1 by a score of 6-3. Defenseman Dana Murzyn and Kevin Dineen tallied three assists each in the victory. The top-seeded ’85-’86 Hartford Whalers responded with a big 6-1 win in Game 2. Defenseman Dave Babych potted a hat trick for the reigning representatives while goaltender Mike Liut stopped 37 of 38 shots against to lead them to the win. In Game 3, the ’86-’87 Whalers ran out to a four goal lead after just 14 minutes, with two goals coming from Ray Ferraro. The ’85-’86 Whalers started their come back late in the first courtesy of a PP goal from defenseman Ulf Samuelsson. By the end of the second period, the ’85-’86 Whalers had the game tied at four. Then, just 10 seconds into the third period, the ’86-’87 Whalers retook the lead courtesy of a Ron Francis goal. With just under four minutes left, Sylvain Turgeon tied it for the ’85-’86 Whalers at five, which eventually sent it to overtime. Babych scored a PP marker a little over nine minutes into the overtime to give the ’85-’86 Whalers a 2-1 series lead. The ’86-’87 Whalers, again, held a multi-goal lead after the first period, despite Turgeon scoring just five seconds into the game for the ’85-’86 Whalers. However, the ’86-’87 Whalers held onto their lead this time to win 6-3 and tie the series at two. Francis posted four total points while Dineen scored a hat trick and added an assist in the win.
Game 5 was a crazy one. After two periods, the ’86-’87 Whalers led 3-1, but the two sides would combine for eight goals in the third. The ’85-’86 Whalers had the game tied up after just three and a half minutes into the period. Then, had a 4-3 lead after just four minutes into the period. So, the ’86-’87 Whalers scored three times over the next five and a half minutes to take a 6-4 lead with about 10 and a half minutes to play in regulation. At the 13:53 mark, Francis scored for the ’85-’86 Whalers to cut the lead down to 6-5. In the final minute, the ’85-’86 Whalers pulled their goal and with exactly 34 seconds left, Turgeon scored his third goal of the game to tie the game at six. OT did not last long as John Anderson won it for the ’85-’86 Whalers a minute and 24 seconds in to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 also went to an overtime, obviously. The two teams were tied at five after two periods and failed to score anything in the third. This OT didn’t take long either as Ferraro scored the series-clincher just over two minutes into the period. The ’85-’86 Whalers clinch their third trip to the Ultimate NHL Playoff out of three possible chances.
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’86-’87 Whalers | 3 | 0 | 3 | — | 6 |
’85-’86 Whalers | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’86-’87 HAR – 6 ’85-’86 HAR – 3 (1-0 ’86-’87 HAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Paul Lawless (’86-’87 HAR) – 2 G 2 A 4 P +3 4 S
2nd Star: D – Dana Murzyn (’86-’87 HAR) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +3 8 S
3rd Star: RW – Kevin Dineen (’86-’87 HAR) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +1 8 S
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’86-’87 Whalers | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
’85-’86 Whalers | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’85-’86 HAR – 6 ’86-’87 HAR – 1 (1-1)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: D – Dave Babych (’85-’86 HAR) – 3 G 0 A 3 P +1 8 S
2nd Star: G – Mike Liut (’85-’86 HAR) – W 1.00 GAA .974 SV% (37 SV’s)
3rd Star: LW – Sylvain Turgeon (’85-’86 HAR) – 1 G 2 A 3 P Even 7 S
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’85-’86 Whalers | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
’86-’87 Whalers | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’85-’86 HAR – 6 ’86-’87 HAR – 5 (OT) (2-1 ’85-’86 HAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: D – Dave Babych (’85-’86 HAR) – 2 G 2 A 4 P +2 4 S
2nd Star: C – Ron Francis (’85-’86 HAR) – 1 G 3 A 4 P +1 6 S
3rd Star: LW – Sylvain Turgeon (’86-’87 HAR) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +3 4 S 2 PIM
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’85-’86 Whalers | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
’86-’87 Whalers | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 6 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’86-’87 HAR – 6 ’85-’86 HAR – 3 (2-2)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: RW – Kevin Dineen (’86-’87 HAR) – 3 G 1 A 4 P Even 10 S 2 PIM
2nd Star: C – Ron Francis (’86-’87 HAR) – 1 G 4 A 5 P Even 8 S
3rd Star: LW – Sylvain Turgeon (’86-’87 HAR) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 7 S
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’86-’87 Whalers | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
’85-’86 Whalers | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’85-’86 HAR – 7 ’86-’87 HAR – 6 (OT) (3-2 ’85-’86 HAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Ron Francis (’85-’86 HAR) – 2 G 4 A 6 P +4 6 S
2nd Star: LW – Sylvain Turgeon (’85-’86 HAR) – 3 G 2 A 5 P +4 11 S
3rd Star: RW – Kevin Dineen (’86-’87 HAR) – 2 G 3 A 5 P +1 4 S 2 PIM
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Second Overtime | Total | |
’85-’86 Whalers | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
’86-’87 Whalers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’85-’86 HAR – 6 ’86-’87 HAR – 5 (2OT) (4-2 ’85-’86 HAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Sylvain Turgeon (’85-’86 HAR) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +1 10 S 2 PIM
2nd Star: G – Mike Liut (’85-’86 HAR) – W 5,00 GAA .925 SV% (62 SV’s)
3rd Star: D – Joel Quenneville (’85-’86 HAR) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +2 1 S
Up next is the 2016 Arizona Coyotes Qualifying Tournament!