No club in NHL history had previously managed to score three goals in the final minute of regular time to catch up with a deficit.
All of Vancouver's goals came in power play with six players against five, after the team had pulled the goalie in pursuit of reductions and a tie.
Finnish player Mikael Granlund scored the 5-2 goal for the home team Dallas as late as 17:39 into the third period.
When the clock showed 19 minutes played, Aatu Räty had initiated Vancouver's comeback, assisted by Marcus Pettersson.
Pius Suter responded with 4-5 just 30 seconds later, and with 5.2 seconds remaining, Suter also scored 5-5. In overtime, Kiefer Sherwood emerged as Vancouver's hero.
It shows character to win in that way, says coach Rick Tocchet, whose team was down 0-3 before the final period.
The win means that the Canadian club is still in the running for a wildcard spot in the Western Conference. Vancouver has six points up to Minnesota and nine points to St Louis with four matches left to play.
Last season, Vancouver won the Pacific Division.
My son sent me an SMS: "You looked like last year's team in the third", says Rick Tocchet after the historic win against Dallas.
For Detroit, it was a crushing defeat in the crucial match against Montreal, which won 4-1 at home.
With five matches left to play, Detroit now has eight points up to Montreal, which holds the last wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa has secured the second wildcard ticket.
Corrected version: Now with the correct surname for Kiefer Sherwood.
