HAMAR, Norway — Joakim Jensen finally ended what is believed to be the longest game in hockey history, scoring in the eighth overtime in the Norwegian League playoffs.
More than 8 1/2 hours after the game started — and after 217 minutes, 14 seconds of play — Jensen broke through to give the Storhamar Dragons a 2-1 victory over the Sparta Warriors early Monday morning. The game ended at 2:32 a.m.
In the longest game in NHL, the Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons 1-0 in a 1936 Stanley Cup final game on Mud Bruneteau’s goal at 16:30 of the sixth overtime.
Storhamar leads the best-of-seven quarterfinal series 3-2.
Players will not have long to recover. The two teams meet again on Tuesday evening.
Jensen said he was happy to put the relatively obscure Norwegian league onto the world map.
“Now I’m looking forward to going home and going to bed,” he told Norway’s TV2 television. “I took a knock in the fifth overtime period and I’ve had cramp in the calf ever since.”
Players kept energy levels up by eating pizza and pasta during breaks.
