Game 7 – the best two words in sports. After a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers will return to Florida to play one final game. Only one other team in Stanley Cup Finals history has come back from a 3-0 series deficit and has gone on to win the series. In 1942, the Toronto Maple Leafs came back from down 3-0, defeating the Detroit Red Wings.
However, the Oilers could be the first team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit and win game 7 on the road. With Edmonton potentially making history, let’s look at some successful and unsuccessful 3-0 series comebacks in the NHL, the NBA, and the MLB.
Table of Contents
NHL
1942 Stanley Cup finals – Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings
Detroit dominated Toronto in the first three games of the series, scoring 12 goals to the Maple Leafs’ six. After winning game four by just one goal, Toronto took game 5, winning 9-3. Building on that statement win, Toronto eventually won game 7 in comeback fashion. The 1942 Maple Leafs remain the only team to successfully overcome a 3-0 series in Stanley Cup Finals history.
2010 Eastern Conference semifinals – Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
Bruins center David Krejci broke his wrist in Game 3, opening the door for the Flyers to make a historic comeback. Boston scored the first three goals of game 7, but Philadelphia tied up the contest in the second period. A game-winning third-period goal sealed the game and series for the Flyers.
1975 Stanley Cup quarterfinals – New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
In the 1975 playoffs, the Islanders won eight games while facing elimination. New York had all the momentum in this series thanks to a 3-1 victory in game four and a 4-2 victory in game 5. The Islanders stopped 39 of 40 shots by the Penguins in a 4-1 game six victory. New York carried its defensive dominance into game 7, eventually coming out victorious.
NBA
1951 Finals – New York Knicks vs. Rochester Royals
The Knicks became the first team to force a game 7 after trailing 3-0 in a series. However, New York could not finish the job. Royals center Arnie Risen scored 24 points and 13 rebounds in Game 7, ultimately securing the NBA championship for Rochester.
2003 Western Conference Finals – Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks
Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki was unstoppable in the first three games of this series, averaging nearly 38 points per game. However, led by Bonzi Wells’s consistent scoring output of 19 points per game, the Trail Blazers forced a game 7. The Mavericks quickly put Portland away in the closeout game, thanks to Nowitzki’s 31 points in the final game
2023 Eastern Conference Finals – Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
After losing to the Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat wanted revenge in the 2023 playoffs. Thanks to stellar performances by Jayson Tatum and a Derrick White buzzer-beater in game 6, Boston forced a game 7. However, Jimmy Butler had his sights set on the Finals, dropping 28 points and leading Miami to victory.
MLB
2004 American League Championship Series – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
The Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to come back from a 3-0 deficit and eventually went on to win the World Series after. In games 4 and 5, the Yankees blew 4-3 leads, giving Boston hope and motivation to make a historic comeback. The Red Sox got an early 4-0 lead in game 6, eventually winning the game 4-2. Early in game 7, David Ortiz bombed a two-run home run, and Johnny Damon hit a grand slam to give Boston a 6-0 lead. The Red Sox won the game in convincing fashion, beating New York 10-3.
2020 American League Championship Series – Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Defending champion Houston Astros did not look like themselves in the series’ first three games. However, that was different for the last four games. The Astros took game 4 with a 4-3 win, while Carlos Correa’s Game 5 walk-off home run sealed game 5. After winning game 6, Houston didn’t have enough gas left in the tank for game 7, and Tampa Bay snagged the victory. Although the Astros did not complete the comeback, they became only the second team in MLB history to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0, following the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
Can The Oilers Make History and Win Game 7?
With their backs against the wall, Edmonton has looked better than ever. With a 5-1 game six victory, the Oilers became the first team in 78 years to force a Game 7 in a Stanley Cup Finals being down 3-0. Edmonton took a 3-0 lead in the second period in game 6, a trend that has been consistent for three straight games. The Oilers will look to get to another hot start in game 7, hoping to bury Florida early. Expect both teams to come out with everything they have in this do-or-die game.
