The greatest surprise playoff performers

Elliotte Friedman compares Sam Bennett’s impact for the Flames so far this postseason to some of the great surprise performers in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.

Sam Bennett has proven to be quite a surprise contributor for the Calgary Flames through the first four games of their best-of-seven series with the Vancouver Canucks.

Bennett, the Flames’ 2014 first-round pick, has two goals and an assist in the series. With just one regular season game on his resume before slotting into the lineup for the post-season, Bennett could be on his way to joining a list of all-time surprise playoff performers.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman highlighted several of the NHL’s greatest surprise playoff performances from years past during Tuesday night’s Game 4 meeting between the Canucks and Flames. While Bennett still has a way to go before cementing his status among the likes of Ken Dryden and Dino Ciccarelli, his play thus far in the first-round has been nothing short of spectacular.

Here’s a look at five all-time great playoff surprises.

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