Highest-scoring NHL game: Where Kings vs. Kraken 17-goal affair ranks on the all-time list

Someone forgot to tell the Kraken and Kings to bring their defense and goaltending on Tuesday night. The two Pacific Division foes had a goal-scoring frenzy in Los Angeles, as the two teams combined for 17 goals in an 9-8 overtime win for Seattle. 

The first period saw the Kings and Kraken each pot three goals, bringing a tie to the middle frame. In the second period, eight combined goals were scored as the Kraken pulled ahead 8-6 after 40 minutes. After two goals by the Kings in the third period to knot the game once again, Andre Burakovsky finally ended the night with an overtime winner. 

The 17 total goals scored marked just the 12th time in the past 35 years that two teams potted at least that amount. 

The @SeattleKraken and @LAKings combined for 17 goals Tuesday, marking the 12th regular-season game in the past 35 years to feature at least as many.#NHLStats: https://t.co/6Nyqr1Q5vt pic.twitter.com/Jmi6hlpfSM

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 30, 2022

MORE: When is the 2023 Winter Classic?

While it is the highest-scoring game so far in the 2022-23 season, that combined total does not even rank in the top 20 on the NHL's all-time list. Here's a look at the most combined goals scored in an NHL game. 

Highest-scoring NHL games

It's not surprising to see that it is either contest from the very early ages of the NHL and the Oilers teams from the 1980s that are a part of the highest-scoring affairs in NHL history. 

There have been two games where there were a combined 21 goals scored, the most in any NHL game. The first happened in 1920 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto St. Patrick's, where the Canadiens won a 14-7 game. That record stood alone until late in 1985 when the Oilers and Blackhawks combined for 21 goals in a 12-9 win for Edmonton. 

There are only two other instances where at least 20 goals were tallied, and the Oilers were involved in both. In 1984, they played the Minnesota North Stars to a 12-8 affair, and two years later in 1986, the Oilers were defeated by the Maple Leafs 11-9. 

Highest-scoring NHL playoff games

The Oilers teams of the '80s had some of the highest-scoring postseason affairs. While Edmonton was typically on the winning end, their highest-scoring playoff match had them as the losers.

Their eight goals against the Kings in the 1982 playoffs was not enough to win, as Los Angeles potted 10, bringing the game total to 18 goals, the record for most goals in a playoff game. 

The Penguins-Flyers rivalry resulted in a 17-goal affair in 1989, the second-highest total goals scored in the postseason. After that, it is that vaunted Oilers team again, this time coming out with a win after thumping the Kings 13-3 in 1987.