List of teams to overcome 3-1 series deficits

The following is the list of teams that have overcome 3–1 series deficits . The listed teams won three consecutive games after being down three games to one in a best-of-seven playoff series. This is similar to a comeback from a 2–0 series deficit in a best-of-five series, which also requires winning three straight games, but these are not covered here.
All 3–1 deficit comebacks in a seven-game series involve winning three straight elimination games, finally featuring a double-elimination game seven. Longer series of this nature are almost always structured as single-elimination knockout tournaments, so one more loss ends playoff contention for the losing side.
This playoff structure is common in North American professional sports, particularly in the sports of baseball, basketball, and ice hockey.
Examples outside of North America of the seven-game structure include the Taiwan Series baseball tournament, the final round of the Japan Series, the Chinese, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Turkish baseball leagues, and later rounds of the Gagarin Cup of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) based in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and China. Within North America, there are also some intermediate leagues below the major league level such as hockey's Calder Cup and Kelly Cup as well as the three Major Junior leagues Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Maritmes Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League.
Implicit in overcoming a 3–1 series deficit are all teams who have overcome a 3–0 series deficit. These are noted in the series comment cells and—lacking an explicit column in the tabular format—can be identified with a text search within the article page for the text string "3–0".
==Background==
Three major North American professional sports leagues have playoff series that can reach a seventh game: Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). In the history of these leagues, teams that were down 3–1 in a series have come back to win the series 58 times; 14 times in MLB, 13 times in the NBA, and 31 times in the NHL. The most recent instance was accomplished by the Florida Panthers of the NHL in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
==Key==
 	Indicates team down 3–1 was home team in game seven
 	Indicates series in the championship round
Eventual champion	Indicates the winner went on to win the championship
==National Hockey League==
===Successful comebacks===
NHL teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 32 times, the most recent instance being accomplished by the Florida Panthers during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Rangers, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Montreal Canadiens are tied with the most successful 3–1 series comebacks in the NHL, with three. Four times a team comeback from 3–0 down and only one instance has occurred during the Stanley Cup Finals, accomplished in 1942 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who initially trailed 3–0.
Year and series 	Series Winner 	Series Loser 	Note(s)
1942 Stanley Cup Finals 	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings 	Only time in the Stanley Cup Finals; overcame 3–0 deficit.
1975 Stanley Cup quarterfinals 	New York Islanders 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Overcame 3–0 deficit; won 8 games while facing elimination.
1987 Patrick Division semifinals 	New York Islanders 	Washington Capitals 	First year the opening round was a seven-game series; game seven was the Easter Epic.
1987 Norris Division finals 	Detroit Red Wings 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	Trailed 2–0 in the series before coming back to win the series.
1988 Patrick Division semifinals 	Washington Capitals	Philadelphia Flyers 	Capitals trailed 3–0 in game seven before completing the comeback in OT.
1989 Smythe Division semifinals 	Los Angeles Kings 	Edmonton Oilers 	Los Angeles dethroned the two-time defending champion Oilers in Wayne Gretzky's first season with LA following the trade between the two teams.
1990 Smythe Division semifinals 	Edmonton Oilers 	Winnipeg Jets 	Went on to win the Stanley Cup Finals.
1991 Norris Division semifinals 	St. Louis Blues 	Detroit Red Wings 	St. Louis outscored Detroit 12–3 over the last three games.
1992 Norris Division semifinals 	Detroit Red Wings 	 	Trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series.
1992 Smythe Division semifinals 	Vancouver Canucks 	Winnipeg Jets 	Canucks won game five by six goals and games six and seven by five goals each.
1992 Patrick Division semifinals 	Pittsburgh Penguins	Washington Capitals 	Trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series and eventually the Stanley Cup.
1994 Western Conference quarterfinals	Vancouver Canucks 	Calgary Flames 	The final three games all required overtime (game seven needed 2OT).
1995 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Pittsburgh Penguins	Washington Capitals 	Second time Washington has blown a 3–1 series lead to Pittsburgh.
1998 Western Conference quarterfinals	Edmonton Oilers 	Colorado Avalanche 	Curtis Joseph stopped 92/93 shots over the last three games.
1999 Western Conference quarterfinals	St. Louis Blues 	Phoenix Coyotes 	Third blown 3–1 lead in franchise history; team relocated from Winnipeg in 1996.
2000 Eastern Conference finals 	New Jersey Devils 	Philadelphia Flyers 	Won the Stanley Cup Finals.
2003 Western Conference quarterfinals	Minnesota Wild 	Colorado Avalanche 	First playoff series in Minnesota Wild franchise history.
2003 Western Conference quarterfinals	Vancouver Canucks 	St. Louis Blues 	Third 3–1 deficit comeback in Canucks' franchise history.
2003 Western Conference semifinals 	Minnesota Wild 	Vancouver Canucks 	The Wild became first NHL team to overcome two 3–1 deficits in a single playoff year; both teams overcame 3–1 deficits in the Conference Quarterfinals; the Canucks became the first NHL team to comeback from 3–1 deficit and then blow a 3–1 lead in the same playoff year.
2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Montreal Canadiens 	Boston Bruins 	Trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series.
2009 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Washington Capitals	New York Rangers 	Trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series.
2010 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Montreal Canadiens 	Washington Capitals 	Capitals' fourth blown 3–1 lead after winning the Presidents' Trophy.
2010 Eastern Conference semifinals 	Philadelphia Flyers	Boston Bruins 	Overcame both a 3–0 deficit in the series, and a 3–0 deficit in Game 7.
2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Tampa Bay Lightning	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Penguins' second blown 3–1 series lead.
2013 Western Conference semifinals 	Chicago Blackhawks 	Detroit Red Wings 	Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup Finals. Red Wings' third blown 3–1 series lead.
2014 Western Conference first round 	Los Angeles Kings 	San Jose Sharks 	Overcame 3–0 deficit; went on to win the Stanley Cup Finals.
2014 Eastern Conference Second Round 	New York Rangers 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Penguins' third blown 3–1 series lead.
2015 Eastern Conference second round 	New York Rangers 	Washington Capitals 	Capitals' fifth blown 3–1 lead in franchise history. Rangers become first team to a overcome 3–1 series deficit to win a series in consecutive years.
2019 Western Conference first round 	San Jose Sharks 	Vegas Golden Knights	The Sharks punctuated their series comeback against the Golden Knights by coming back in game seven from a 3–0 third period deficit, highlighted by Barclay Goodrow's series-winning overtime goal. First blown 3–1 series lead in Golden Knights' franchise history.
2021 North Division first round 	Montreal Canadiens 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	Third 3–1 deficit comeback in Canadiens' franchise history. The loss in game seven for Toronto marked its eighth straight loss in potential series-clinching games, along with losing a winner-take-all game of a playoff series in four consecutive seasons. The Canadiens later reached the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
2022 Eastern Conference first round 	New York Rangers 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Penguins' fourth blown 3–1 series lead. It was also the second time that the Penguins blew a 3–1 series lead to the Rangers. The Rangers tie the Canadiens and Canucks for most successful 3–1 series comebacks, with three. Become the only team to accomplish the feat while trailing at some point in all three elimination games, including trailing by two goals in both games five & six.
2023 Eastern Conference first round 	Florida Panthers 	Boston Bruins 	Bruins' third blown 3–1 series lead after winning the Presidents' Trophy. This occurred the same season the Bruins set the league record for most wins and points in a single regular season and the first time since 2019 that the Presidents' Trophy winner were defeated in the first round.
===Unsuccessful comebacks===
NHL teams have managed to force a seventh game while facing a 3–1 series deficit 33 times, only to subsequently lose the series in the seventh game. Five of these instances consisted of falling behind 3–0 in the series before losing in Game Seven.
Year and series 	Series Loser 	Series Winner 	Note(s)
1939 Stanley Cup semifinals 	New York Rangers 	Boston Bruins 	This was also the first time a team forced a seventh game after falling behind 3–0 in the series. Mel Hill scored the series-winning goal in the third overtime for Boston in what is currently the second longest game seven played in NHL history.
1945 Stanley Cup Finals 	Detroit Red Wings 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	The Red Wings nearly turned the tables on the Maple Leafs after losing the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals after squandering a 3–0 series lead after falling behind 3–0 in this series. However, Babe Pratt of the Maple Leafs scored the eventual series-winning goal with under eight minutes remaining in game seven. This was also the first game seven of a Cup Final in which the road team won.
1954 Stanley Cup Finals 	Montreal Canadiens 	Detroit Red Wings 	Tony Leswick scores the series-winning goal in overtime.
1968 Stanley Cup quarterfinals 	Philadelphia Flyers	St. Louis Blues 	The Flyers forced the seventh game with Andre Lacroix scoring the game-tying goal with 15 seconds remaining facing elimination in game six.
1975 Stanley Cup semifinals 	New York Islanders 	Philadelphia Flyers 	The Islanders nearly came back from a 3–0 deficit in consecutive playoff series winning eight elimination games in their first playoff appearance in franchise history. However, Rick MacLeish's hat trick in game seven proved to be the difference.
1981 Stanley Cup quarterfinals 	Philadelphia Flyers	Calgary Flames 	The Flames scored three power play goals in the seventh game to advance to the Stanley Cup Semifinals in their first season since relocating from Atlanta.
1984 Smythe Division finals 	Calgary Flames 	Edmonton Oilers 	Edmonton eliminated Calgary in the Division Finals for the second consecutive season.
1987 Patrick Division finals 	New York Islanders 	Philadelphia Flyers 	The Islanders nearly overcame a 3–1 series deficit in consecutive playoff series following their comeback against Washington in the Patrick Division Semifinals. But in similarity to 1975, the Flyers won game seven.
1987 Stanley Cup Finals 	Philadelphia Flyers	Edmonton Oilers 	Edmonton newspapers planned victory parades ahead of game five. However, the Flyers overcame two-goal deficits in both games five and six.
1991 Smythe Division semifinals 	Calgary Flames 	Edmonton Oilers 	Calgary opened up a three-goal lead at home in the first period of game seven. Esa Tikkanen of Edmonton started and completed the comeback in game seven by scoring the series-winning goal in overtime to complete the hat trick become just the second team to win a seventh game after overcoming a three-goal deficit.
1992 Adams Division semifinals 	Buffalo Sabres 	Boston Bruins 	Dave Reid scored the series-winning goal for Boston with just over eight minutes remaining in game seven to close out Buffalo after being shutout in game five and surrendering nine goals in game six.
1994 Stanley Cup Finals 	Vancouver Canucks 	New York Rangers 	Just like Edmonton did prior to game five of the 1987 Finals, New York set the date for a victory parade ahead of game five. The Rangers never trailed in game seven, winning their first Stanley Cup in 54 years and putting an end to the Curse of 1940.
2000 Western Conference quarterfinals	St. Louis Blues 	San Jose Sharks 	Owen Nolan scored the eventual series-winning goal with just over ten seconds remaining in the opening period by blasting a shot from just inside the red line as San Jose eliminated the Presidents' Trophy winners.
2001 Western Conference semifinals 	Los Angeles Kings 	Colorado Avalanche 	After the Kings held the Avalanche scoreless for a stretch of 162:53 between games four to seven, the Avalanche finally broke through with five goals in game seven (including four goals in the third period). Chris Drury scored the series-winner just over three minutes into the third period to eliminate Los Angeles.
2002 Western Conference quarterfinals	Los Angeles Kings 	Colorado Avalanche 	For the second consecutive year, Chris Drury scores the series-winning goal for Colorado.
2003 Eastern Conference finals 	Ottawa Senators 	New Jersey Devils 	Jamie Langenbrunner's two goals and Jeff Friesen's series-winner with just over two minutes remaining in game seven propels the Devils to their fourth Stanley Cup Finals in nine years while avoiding becoming the fourth team in the 2003 playoffs to lose a series after leading 3–1.
2006 Stanley Cup Finals~ 	Edmonton Oilers 	Carolina Hurricanes 	The Oilers rallied to force a seventh game on the strength of Fernando Pisani's game-winners in games five and six (game five while shorthanded in overtime), and Jussi Markkanen's shutout in game six. However, Edmonton's Cinderella run as the West's eighth seed ended as Carolina never trailed in game seven and won their first Stanley Cup. This is the most recent Cup Final in which a team has forced a seventh game after trailing the series 3–1, and is the most recent Cup Final in which the seventh game was won on the home ice of the winning team.
2007 Western Conference quarterfinals	Dallas Stars 	Vancouver Canucks 	Marty Turco holds Vancouver scoreless for 167:05 to rally Dallas in the series before Vancouver managed to break through with four goals in the final 25 minutes of game seven to advance.
2008 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Boston Bruins 	Montreal Canadiens 	Boston rallies against Montreal in the series primarily from scoring four goals in the third period in both games five and six. However, Montreal dominated game seven with them winning 5–0 to avoid the upset.
2008 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Washington Capitals	Philadelphia Flyers 	Game seven went to overtime, where Joffrey Lupul scored for Philadelphia.
2009 Eastern Conference semifinals 	Boston Bruins 	Carolina Hurricanes 	Scott Walker scored the series-winning goal in overtime as Carolina won their fourth straight playoff series dating back to 2006 that lasted seven games.
2011 Western Conference quarterfinals	Chicago Blackhawks 	Vancouver Canucks 	The defending champions were also behind 3–0 in the series before routing the Presidents' Trophy winners in games four and five to send the series back to Chicago where Ben Smith scored the overtime winner to force the seventh game. After trailing for much of game seven, Jonathan Toews tied the game shorthanded with just under two minutes left. Game seven also headed to overtime, where Chicago's comeback attempt failed when Alexandre Burrows took advantage of a Chris Campoli turnover to beat Corey Crawford.
2011 Western Conference semifinals 	Detroit Red Wings 	San Jose Sharks 	Detroit also forced a seventh game after falling behind 3–0 to make 2011 the only playoff year in which two different teams have forced a seventh game after trailing 3–0 in the series.
2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Toronto Maple Leafs	Boston Bruins 	Boston prevented Toronto's series comeback attempt by coming back in game seven from a 4–1 third period deficit, which was punctuated by Patrice Bergeron's game-tying goal and series-winning overtime goal.
2014 Western Conference Finals 	Chicago Blackhawks 	Los Angeles Kings 	Like in 2011, the defending champion Blackhawks' comeback bid falls short in overtime as Alec Martinez's overtime goal rallies the Kings from a two-goal deficit in game seven.
2016 Western Conference first round 	Chicago Blackhawks 	St. Louis Blues 	Once again, the defending champion Blackhawks were thwarted from completing a series comeback when former Blackhawk Troy Brouwer scored the series-winning goal in the third period of game seven.
2017 Eastern Conference second round 	Washington Capitals	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Bryan Rust scores the series-winning goal to eliminate the Presidents' Trophy Capitals for the second straight year.
2018 Eastern Conference first round 	Toronto Maple Leafs	Boston Bruins 	Boston once again comes from behind in the third period to avoid blowing a 3–1 series lead as Jake DeBrusk scores the series-winner.
2020 Western Conference second round 	Colorado Avalanche 	Dallas Stars 	Joel Kiviranta scores a hat trick along with the series-winning goal in overtime.
2020 Western Conference second round 	Vancouver Canucks 	Vegas Golden Knights	Shea Theodore scores the opening goal of the game with just over six minutes remaining in regulation which would turn out to be the series winner.
2020 Eastern Conference second round 	Philadelphia Flyers	New York Islanders 	After winning games five and six in OT and 2OT respectively, the Flyers were shutout 4–0 by the Islanders throughout all of game seven. Scott Mayfield scored the opening goal of game seven for New York, which would stand as the series-winner. This game seven was the third time these two franchises have met in a seventh game with all three times where one team trailed 3–1 in series, force a game seven, but subsequently lose it.
2021 West Division first round 	Minnesota Wild 	Vegas Golden Knights	This was the third straight year in which Vegas held a 3–1 series advantage in a playoff series, only to be forced to a seventh game. However, Mattias Janmark's hat trick and Max Pacioretty's series-winning goal allow Vegas to win 6–2. This was the Wild's first game seven loss in franchise history.
2024 Eastern Conference first round 	Toronto Maple Leafs	Boston Bruins 	This was the fourth consecutive series between the Bruins and Leafs to go to seven games, and second consecutive series which Boston held a 3–1 series lead, only to be forced to a game seven. Boston won game seven 2–1 in overtime. Had Boston blown their series lead, they would have been the first team across NHL, NBA, and MLB history to do so in consecutive years.
==See also==
*List of teams to overcome 3–0 series deficits
*List of teams to overcome 2–0 series deficits in a best-of-five series
==Notes==
==References==
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Category:Stanley Cup playoffs