The Edmonton Oilers are not the first NHL team to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series to reach the finals.
This marks the 10th time in 211 occasions in NHL history and the first time in 10 years. History shows that momentum from a three-game winning streak doesn't always carry over to a Game 7.
Of the nine teams that have fought back to take a Game 7, only four have finished the job, the last time the Los Angeles Kings accomplished the feat was against the San Jose Sharks in the first round in 2014.
Here are the results for the other nine teams that went into Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in the series:
2014 Kings vs Sharks, Round 1
Los Angeles fell behind 1-0 early in the second period in San Jose, but stormed back. The Kings tied the game a few minutes later with a goal from Drew Doughty and another goal from Anze Kopitar late in the second. Los Angeles added three more goals in the third period, including two empty-netter shots, to get another title run started with a 5-1 victory. Jonathan Quick made 39 saves.
2011 Red Wings vs. Sharks, Round 2
Detroit evened the series with a close three-game winning streak, but quickly fell behind in Game 7 in San Jose. The Sharks took the lead in the first period on goals from Devin Setoguchi and Logan Couture, and the Red Wings pulled within one before Patrick Marleau added a crucial goal in the third, his first of the series. San Jose won the game 3–2, but lost to Vancouver in the next round. Antti Niemi made 38 saves.
2011 Blackhawks vs Canucks, Round 1
Defending champion Chicago fought back in the series against the Presidents Trophy winners, then fought back again in Game 7 on the road. Johnathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal with 1 minute, 56 seconds left to tie the game at 1-1. Vancouver then stopped a penalty early in overtime and Alex Burrows scored his second goal to win the series. Roberto Luongo made 31 saves. The Canucks advanced to the Cup final, but lost to Boston in seven games.
2010 Flyers vs Bruins, Round 2
After trailing 3-0 in the series, Philadelphia fell behind 3-0 less than 15 minutes into Game 7 in Boston. The Flyers tied the game with a goal from Daniel Briere late in the second period and won in the third when Simon Gagne scored on a power play after a penalty for having too many men on the ice. Philadelphia advanced to the Cup final before losing to Chicago.
1975 Islanders vs Flyers, semifinals
After a 3-0 comeback win over Pittsburgh in the first round, New York nearly did it again. The Islanders fought back in the semifinals to force a Game 7 in Philadelphia, but the Flyers were no match for them. Gary Dornheuffer scored 19 seconds into the game to turn the tide, and Rick McLeish added a hat trick to help Philadelphia win the game, 5-1.
1975 Islanders vs Penguins, quarterfinals
New York's first playoff season was a memorable one, highlighted by a comeback in the quarterfinals against Pittsburgh. After a 3-0 deficit, manager Al Arbour changed goaltenders and benched Billy Smith for Chico Resch. The move paid off, as the team won four straight games and culminated with a 1-0 road victory in Game 7. Ed Westphal scored with 5:18 left in the game and Resch kept the score at 0 for 30 saves.
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Three years after blowing a 3-0 lead to Toronto, Detroit tried to get revenge in the Cup Final. The Red Wings hadn't scored a point until Game 4, forcing the series into a Game 7. Toronto's Mel Hill scored in the first period for Detroit. The Red Wings tied the game midway through the third period, but Babe Pratt scored on a power play with 7:46 left to give the Maple Leafs the Stanley Cup.
1942 Maple Leafs vs Red Wings, Stanley Cup Finals
Toronto became the only team in a major North American sports league to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a championship series. The Red Wings took the lead on the road in the second period but crumbled in the third. Sweeney Schreiner scored twice in the third period and Pete Rangel scored the game-winner to give the Maple Leafs the title.
1939 Rangers vs. Bruins, semifinals
Long before the Red Sox overcame a 3-0 series deficit to beat the hated Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, the Boston-New York rivalry featured another 3-0 comeback. After losing the first three games of the semifinals, the Rangers fought back to force a Game 7 at Boston Garden. The teams traded scores in the second period and the game was tied until the third overtime when Mel Hill scored the winning run for Boston.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
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