It was the game that seemingly wouldn't end, but thanks to a wily veteran north of the age of 40, it finally did.

Detroit Red Wings forward Igor Larionov scored the game-winning goal in triple overtime of Game 3 in the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, beating goaltender Arturs Irbe with a clever backhand deke while also avoiding a leaping Mathieu Dandenault. 

At the time, the game was the third longest Stanley Cup Finals overtime in history at 54 minutes and 47 seconds. The goal would give Detroit a 2-1 series lead that they'd never look back from en route to their 10th Stanley Cup. 

"We may be old, but I was telling Igor that I'd rather be old and smart than young and dumb,'' said Brett Hull afterward, who scored the game-tying goal with 1:14 remaining in regulation. "Youth and enthusiasm can only take you only so far.''

Larionov, who also scored during the 2nd period, would say that it was the biggest goal of his future Hall of Fame career.

"It's the biggest goal of my career,'' Larionov said."Holmstrom made a great play, and I decided to wait a little bit. He (Canes forward Bates Battaglia) committed to me, and he slid on ice, so I took my time and put it in.''