The Edmonton Oilers aren’t the first team in the NHL to fight back from 3-0 down in a best-of-seven series to force a deciding contest. This is the 10th time it has happened in 211 opportunities in NHL history and the first in 10 years. Based on history, the momentum from three straight wins doesn’t always carry over into a Game 7.
Only four of the nine previous teams to fight back and force a seventh game finished the job, with the Los Angeles Kings the last to pull off the feat in the 2014 first round against the San Jose Sharks. Here’s a look at how those other nine teams that forced a Game 7 after trailing the series 3-0 fared: Los Angeles fell into a 1-0 hole early in the second period at San Jose before rallying once again. The Kings got a tying goal from Drew Doughty a few minutes later and Anze Kopitar scoried the tiebreaking goal late in the second period.
Los Angeles added three goals in the third, including two empty-netters, to start another title run with a 5-1 win. Jonathan Quick made 39 saves. Detroit had won three straight tight games to even the series but fell behind quickly in Game 7 in San Jose.
The Sharks got first-period goals from Devin Setoguchi and Logan Couture to take the lead and Patrick Marleau added a key insurance goal in the third for his first point of the series after the Red Wings pulled within one. San Jose held on for a 3-2 win but lost in the next round to Vancouver. Antti Niemi made 38 saves.
Defending-champion Chicago fought back .
