The difference between victory and defeat in professional sports often comes down to the final moments of play. Data from Opta reveals which teams across America's major leagues have demonstrated a knack for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Key takeaways:
- Atlanta Hawks have had the most buzzer-beaters since 2020.
- Arizona Cardinals have scored the most game-winning touchdowns in the last five years.
- Orlando City SC has the most stoppage time goals since 2020.
- Tampa Bay Lighting and the Vegas Golden Knights have scored the most game-winning goals in the last minute of play.
Luckiest NBA Team
As previously mentioned, the Atlanta Hawks are the NBA's most fortunate team. They have recorded an impressive nine buzzer-beating game-winning shots since the 2020-21 season. This remarkable ability to convert in the closing seconds has given Hawks fans plenty of heart-stopping moments, regardless of the team's overall success. The Sacramento Kings follow closely with eight last-second winners, while the Miami Heat have accumulated seven such victories in this period.
| Team | Most Buzzer-Beating Game-Winning Shots – Since 2020-21 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 9 |
| Sacramento Kings | 8 |
| Miami Heat | 7 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 6 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 5 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 5 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 4 |
| Chicago Bulls | 4 |
| Denver Nuggets | 4 |
| Golden State Warriors | 4 |
| Orlando Magic | 4 |
| Boston Celtics | 3 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 3 |
| Detroit Pistons | 3 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2 |
| Houston Rockets | 1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 1 |
| New York Knicks | 1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 1 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 |
| Utah Jazz | 1 |
| Washington Wizards | 1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 0 |
| TOTAL | 88 |
The distribution across the league shows considerable variance, with teams like the Dallas Mavericks (six buzzer-beaters) and both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers (five each) also demonstrating significant clutch performance.
On the opposite end, the Los Angeles Clippers represent the only NBA franchise without a single buzzer-beating game-winner during this timeframe, suggesting their fans might be spared both the agony and ecstasy of down-to-the-wire finishes.
Luckiest NFL Team
In the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons share the distinction of producing the most dramatic finishes, with six game-winning scores each in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter since 2020. These teams are building a reputation for consistently delivering edge-of-your-seat moments. Transforming seemingly inevitable defeats into improbable victories with just seconds remaining on the clock is an art in itself.
| TEAM | Most Game-Winning Scores in Final 5 Seconds of 4th Quarter – Since 2020 |
| Cardinals | 6 |
| Falcons | 6 |
| Buccaneers | 3 |
| Chiefs | 3 |
| Commanders | 3 |
| Raiders | 3 |
| Bears | 2 |
| Broncos | 2 |
| Dolphins | 2 |
| Jets | 2 |
| Lions | 2 |
| Packers | 2 |
| Panthers | 2 |
| Ravens | 2 |
| Browns | 1 |
| Colts | 1 |
| Cowboys | 1 |
| Giants | 1 |
| Jaguars | 1 |
| Titans | 1 |
| Vikings | 1 |
| 49ers | 0 |
| Bengals | 0 |
| Bills | 0 |
| Chargers | 0 |
| Eagles | 0 |
| Patriots | 0 |
| Rams | 0 |
| Saints | 0 |
| Seahawks | 0 |
| Steelers | 0 |
| Texans | 0 |
A tier below, four teams — the Buccaneers, Chiefs, Commanders, and Raiders — have each recorded three game-winning scores in the dying moments. The presence of the Chiefs in this group demonstrates that even championship-caliber teams occasionally rely on last-second heroics.
Meanwhile, ten NFL franchises, including playoff regulars like the Bills, Eagles, and Seahawks, haven't managed a single game-winning score in the final 5 seconds during this period, suggesting they either secure victory more comfortably or fall short in tight contests.
Luckiest NHL Team
On the ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights lead all NHL franchises with six game-winning goals each in the final 60 seconds of regulation since the 2020-21 season. This clutch performance has helped solidify both teams among hockey's elite during this period, with the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021 demonstrating their ability to perform when the stakes are highest.
| TEAM | Most Game-Winning Goals in Final 60 Seconds of Regulation – Since 2020-21 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 6 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 6 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 5 |
| Florida Panthers | 5 |
| Nashville Predators | 4 |
| New York Rangers | 4 |
| St. Louis Blues | 4 |
| Anaheim Ducks | 3 |
| Calgary Flames | 3 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 3 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3 |
| New Jersey Devils | 3 |
| Ottawa Senators | 3 |
| Washington Capitals | 3 |
| Arizona Coyotes | 2 |
| Boston Bruins | 2 |
| Dallas Stars | 2 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2 |
| Minnesota Wild | 2 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 2 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 2 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 2 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 2 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 1 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 1 |
| New York Islanders | 1 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 |
| San Jose Sharks | 1 |
| Seattle Kraken | 1 |
| Utah Hockey Club | 1 |
The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers trail slightly with five last-minute winners apiece. At the same time, the Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues have each tallied four such victories.
Hockey's inherent fast-paced nature makes these last-gasp goals notably adrenaline-pumping. Especially since they often come after a team has pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker in a desperate bid to change the game's outcome.
Luckiest MLS Team
Orlando City SC reigns supreme in Major League Soccer, with nine game-winning goals scored in stoppage time since 2020. This propensity for late heroics has established Orlando as one of the league's most exciting teams to follow, particularly for fans who appreciate dramatic conclusions.
| Team | Most Game-Winning Goals in Stoppage Time – Since 2020 |
| Orlando City SC | 9 |
| Inter Miami CF | 8 |
| Atlanta United FC | 7 |
| D.C. United | 7 |
| Columbus Crew | 6 |
| Minnesota United FC | 5 |
| Real Salt Lake | 5 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 5 |
| Austin FC | 4 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 4 |
| Colorado Rapids | 4 |
| FC Cincinnati | 4 |
| Los Angeles FC | 4 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 4 |
| CF Montreal | 3 |
| FC Dallas | 3 |
| Nashville SC | 3 |
| New York Red Bulls | 3 |
| Portland Timbers | 3 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 3 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2 |
| New England Revolution | 2 |
| New York City FC | 2 |
| Philadelphia Union | 2 |
| Charlotte FC | 1 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 1 |
| St. Louis SC | 0 |
| Toronto FC | 0 |
Inter Miami CF, despite being a relatively recent addition to the league, has quickly developed a reputation for late-game drama, with eight stoppage-time winners.
Atlanta United FC and D.C. United share the third position with seven stoppage-time game-winners each, followed by Columbus Crew with six.
The distribution of last-minute goals across MLS is extensive, with only Toronto FC and St. Louis SC (the latter having only joined the league in 2023) failing to record stoppage-time winners during this period. This widespread occurrence of late goals speaks to soccer's unique ability to produce dramatic shifts in momentum until the final whistle.
These statistics reveal teams who might be considered "lucky.” However, they also reveal franchises that consistently demonstrate the mental fortitude and tactical awareness to capitalize on opportunities in the most pressure-filled moments. For fans of these teams, the data sends a clear message: never leave a close game early. You never know. The most unforgettable moments might be just seconds away from unfolding.
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