Notable teams, NHL and otherwise, that have erased 3-0 series deficits

April 19, 2017 at 12:05PM
New York Islanders J.P. Parise, left, stands to watch the game as teammate Ed Westfall, right, takes oxygen during action of Islanders-Philadelphia Flyers semi-final Stanley Cup playoffs in Philadelphia on Thursday, May 8, 1975. Islanders won 5-1. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: APHS234216
J.P. Parise (12) helped the Islanders rally from 3-0 down vs. Pittsburgh. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

So you're saying there's a chance ...

NHL teams have trailed 3-0 on 184 occasions in playoff series, and only four have rallied to win the series. It's never happened in the NBA, and only once in baseball.

1942 Toronto Maple Leafs: The only championship series rally from down 3-0 came when the Leafs, led by captain Syl Apps and goalie Turk Broda, beat the Red Wings by taking the last four games. Detroit coach Jack Adams punched referee Mel Harwood at the end of Game 4 … don't see that much any more.

1975 New York Islanders: The Isles (with rugged winger J.P. Parise) fell behind 3-0 to Pittsburgh before winning the first-round series, then were behind three games to none in the semifinals before rallying to even things with Philadelphia. The Flyers won Game 7 and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Isles added Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy later in the '70s and won four consecutive Cups (1980 to '83).

2004 Boston Red Sox: Down 3-0 to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox scored a historic comeback on their way to their first World Series title since 1918. There have been 34 baseball playoff series in which a team has trailed 3-0.

2010 Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers and star defenseman Chris Pronger beat the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference semifinals, then made it to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to Chicago.

2014 Los Angeles Kings: The Kings were facing elimination to San Jose in the first round but rallied to win the series and went on to win the Stanley Cup. Anze Kopitar was the Kings' scoring leader in the regular season and the playoffs.

Boston Red Sox's Gabe Kapler, foreground, hugs Orlando Cabrera as Curt Leskanic, left, joins in after Boston defeated the New York Yankees 10-3 in the deciding game of the AL championship series Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, in New York. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta) ORG XMIT: NYY164
The Red Sox came back from 3-0 down to beat the Yankees in 2004. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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