The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun, making it the perfect time to revisit some of the most unexpected comebacks in NHL postseason history.
Falling into 3–0 series deficit is typically a death sentence for any team in a playoff series. In many of the major North American sports leagues, there has never been a squad capable of turning the tides in their favor after falling down 3–0. That's not the case for the NHL, however.
On four separate occasions in league history, a team has managed to erase a 3–0 series deficit and win four games in a row in order to reach the next round. We'll have a look at all of those series' below.
NHL Teams to Overcome 3-0 Deficit in Stanley Cup Playoffs History
Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings, 1942 Stanley Cup Finals
The Maple Leafs erased a 3–0 series deficit against the Red Wings to win the 1942 Stanley Cup. It's the only time in Stanley Cup final history that a team has erased a 3–0 deficit to win the championship.
Islanders vs. Penguins, 1975 Stanley Cup quarterfinals
After scoring 13 goals in the first three games of the series, the Penguins' offense went cold. Pittsburgh's 3–0 lead was quickly erased by the Islanders, who outscored the Penguins 12–4 in the final four games of the series. Despite their comeback series win, New York would be eliminated in the following round by the Flyers.
Flyers vs. Bruins, 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals
The Bruins built up a 3–0 lead in the series and forced overtime in Game 4. After failing to get the job done in OT, things unraveled for Boston, who proceeded to lose the final three games of the series while getting outscored 9–5. The Flyers went on to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games.
Kings vs. Sharks, 2014 Western Conference first round
After racking up 17 goals in three games and jumping out to a 3–0 series lead, the Sharks surely thought they had booked their ticket to the second round of the playoffs. The Kings had other ideas. L.A. rallied and won the subsequent four games by a margin of 13 goals, securing the monumental comeback win. The Kings went on to win the Stanley Cup that season, defeating the Rangers in a five-game series.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Every NHL Team That Has Ever Come Back From 3-0 Series Deficit in Stanley Cup Playoffs History.