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5 incredible Game 7s since 2013

Greg M. Cooper / action images

With the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins set to square off in Game 7 on Thursday, we take a look at five incredible Game 7s over the past five years. One can only hope Thursday's tilt is as exciting as these historic contests.

Maple Leafs, Bruins (2013)

Venue: TD Garden
Round: First
Result: 5-4 Bruins (OT)
GWG: Patrice Bergeron

Leafs fans, look away.

This game will go down as the one of the greatest collapses/comebacks in playoff history. The Leafs led 2-1 heading into the third, thanks to two goals from Cody Franson. Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri each tallied a goal early in the third period to make it 4-1 Leafs. Game over, right? Wrong.

Ironically, current injured Maple Leaf Nathan Horton scored for the Bruins midway through the third. Milan Lucic notched one with less than two minutes to go, then Bergeron buried the equalizer. Six minutes into OT, Bergeron destroyed the hearts of Leafs fans everywhere. Here's the video to relive this historic game:

What often gets forgotten, but was arguably the turning point, was Matt Frattin's missed breakaway attempt with Toronto ahead 4-2.

Red Wings, Blackhawks (2013)

Venue: United Center
Round: Second
Result: 2-1 Blackhawks (OT)
GWG: Brent Seabrook

This Game 7 dates back to when Detroit was still in the Western Conference. Patrick Sharp opened the scoring early in the second period. Henrik Zetterberg responded less than 30 seconds into the third. Then, less than four minutes into overtime, Seabrook sniped home the game-winner as Chicago went on to win its second of three Stanley Cups in a six-year span.

Wild, Avalanche (2014)

Venue: Pepsi Center
Round: First
Result: 5-4 Wild (OT)
GWG: Nino Niederreiter

This Wild-Avalanche game was more back-and-forth than a ping pong match. The youthful Avs opened the scoring, but the teams would trade goals until Niederreiter's eventual game-winner off the post. Who can argue the excitement of a Game 7 with five goals after the second intermission?

Kings, Blackhawks (2014)

Venue: United Center
Round: Third
Result: 5-4 Kings (OT)
GWG: Alec Martinez

Hockey fans can only hope Thursday's Game 7 between Ottawa and Pittsburgh even comes close to resembling this tilt.

At this point in time, the Kings and Blackhawks were the previous two Stanley Cup champions. The two best set to meet in a Game 7 to head to the finals was awesome, but the fact that it was a high-scoring game that went to overtime was just pure gravy.

Rangers, Capitals (2015)

Venue: Madison Square Garden
Round: Second
Result: 2-1 Rangers (OT)
GWG: Derek Stepan

This game would mark the first of three consecutive playoff disappointments for the Washington Capitals. In their defense, the Rangers were the higher seed in this series. But considering the Capitals led the series 3-1 after four games, it will surely be viewed as one of their many missed opportunities. Here's Stepan's OT dagger:

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