The top 6 rookie goaltender playoff runs

Anaheim Ducks rookie John Gibson will look to further enhance his own young legend as he leads his team into Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinal tonight versus the Los Angeles Kings.

Gibson has quite a ways to go yet if he wants to join the shortlist of the NHL’s all-time greatest rookie goaltender playoff runs. From a wealth of Montreal Canadiens greats winning a Stanley Cup in their first professional postseason, to Ron Hextall nearly leading the Flyers to an upset of the great Edmonton Oilers dynasty, here are the top six rookie goaltender playoff runs in NHL history.

Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy won his first of four Stanley Cups as a 20-year old rookie in 1986 with the Montreal Canadiens. Roy recorded a remarkably low for the era 1.93 goals against average in 20 games, becoming the youngest player to earn Conn Smythe Trophy honors.

Cam Ward

Then Carolina Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette turned to rookie Cam Ward in the first round of the 2006 playoffs after Martin Gerber stumbled in the first two games versus Montreal. Ward would go on to help the Hurricanes to its first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and capturing the Conn Smythe for himself in the process.

Ward still haunts the dreams of many Oilers fans.

Ron Hextall

The Edmonton Oilers won their third Stanley Cup in four years after knocking off the Philadelphia Flyers in seven game series in 1987. Conn Smythe honors that year went to feisty Flyers rookie Ron Hextall, who kept the dominant Oilers offense in check and nearly pulled off a major upset.

Hextall's temper was something to behold.

Ken Dryden

Technically speaking, Ken Dryden preceded his rookie campaign with a Stanley Cup winning effort in 1970-71. Dryden, central to a total of six Stanley Cup winning teams in Montreal, played just six games during the regular season, preserving his rookie status for the following year.

Antti Niemi

Niemi was relatively unknown when he wrestled number one goalie duties away from Cristobal Huet in 2009-10. Niemi won 16 postseason games as a rookie, helping the Chicago Blackhawks to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 47 seasons. Niemi’s Chicago fame was short lived, as the Blackhawks walked away from a $2.75 million arbitration ruling in the summer of 2010 due to salary cap restraints.  

Bill Durnan

As a 27-year old rookie, Bill Durnan won a Vezina Trophy and backstopped the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup in 1944. Durnan would be named the recipient of the Vezina five more times in his career, and helped the Habs to another Cup in 1946. He’s also one of the few NHL goaltenders to have served as a team captain.