Doug Wickenheiser, whose dramatic overtime play-off goal in 1986 is fondly remembered by St Louis Blues fans as the Monday Night Miracle, died on Tuesday of lung cancer. He was 37.
Funeral arrangements were pending for Wickenheiser, who was with the Blues for all or parts of four seasons from 1983-1987.
Wickenheiser had 51 goals and 67 assists in 230 games with St Louis, and the team used the ex-centre's jersey number, 14, as an inspiration source for battling the disease.
For the past two seasons, several Blues players and front office personnel, as well as fans, wore T-shirts emblazoned with the number 14 atop a burning candle to symbolise hope in Wickenheiser's battle.
Wickenheiser's goal completed the Blues' rally from a 5-2 deficit to beat the Calgary Flames 6-5 in Game Six of the Campbell Conference Finals on May 12, 1986.
The victory forced Game Seven, which Calgary won 2-1 two nights later to advance to the Stanley Cup finals.