NHL Playoffs: How Many Teams Have Come Back From 3-0

It’s hard enough to come back from 0-2 in the NHL playoffs, let alone trying to overcome a three-game deficit.

The last time a team won a playoff series after losing the first three games was in 2014.  

In those situations, hockey odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook are longer than Pinocchio’s nose after lying incessantly.

With so few success stories, you can see why. So, who has pulled off the miraculous over the years, and which teams came oh-so-close?

Which NHL Teams Have Come Back From 3-0? 

Only four teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit and won the series. Teams up 3-0 have a record of 209-4. 

Kings vs. Sharks (2014)

The San Jose Sharks were in control of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, winning the first three games by a combined 17-8. 

The Kings didn’t let it affect their confidence, winning the next four games by outscoring the Sharks 18-5. 

Among the best first-round comebacks in NHL playoff history, Los Angeles rode the momentum all the way to Stanley Cup glory.

Flyers vs. Bruins (2010)

The Philadelphia Flyers were down but not out against the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 2010 playoffs. 

Philly got their act together and won the next four by a 15-8 margin, with the comeback fueled by a Simon Gagne Game 4 overtime winner. 

Eventually, the Flyers lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in the Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins, meanwhile, learned from the Flyers and pulled off two 0-2 comebacks in the following playoffs en route to the Stanley Cup.

Islanders vs. Penguins (1975)

The New York Islanders lost both games in Pittsburgh and the first at home before mounting the improbable comeback. 

They allowed four goals in the next four games and completed the comeback on the road in Game 7. 

In the next round, the Islanders almost repeated the feat. After losing the first three games to the Flyers, they won three straight to tie the series, but lost the decisive Game 7 in Philadelphia. 

Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings (1942)

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost the first three games by a combined 12-6, but reeled off four straight victories, outscoring the Detroit Red Wings 19-7 to overcome the 0-3 series deficit. 

It’s the only time a team has overturned a three-game deficit in the Stanley Cup Final and won. 

Has Any Team Come Back From 3-0 to Win the Stanley Cup Final? 

The Maple Leafs are the only team that has come back from a 0-3 deficit in the final and won. They defied the Stanley Cup odds and pulled off the miraculous feat against the Red Wings in 1942.  

How Many Teams Have Come Back From 3-0 But Lost Game 7? 

Six teams erased a 0-3 series deficit but couldn’t get over the line, losing the decisive Game 7. 

The Edmonton Oilers won three straight against the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, forcing Game 7 in Florida. Their comeback bid fell short, as they lost 2-1 in the decider. 

You’d have to go back to the 2011 playoffs to find the last time this happened, with two occurrences. The Chicago Blackhawks fell just short against the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, and the Sharks lost Game 7 to the Red Wings in the second round.

When Was the Last Time a Team Came Back From 3-0? 

In 2014, the Kings came back from 0-3 in the first round against the Sharks.