Toronto Maple Leafs:The History of 3-0 Playoff Comebacks

To say that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a tough spot is an understatement.

After Sunday’s 3-2 OT loss, the Toronto Maple Leafs are now down 3-0 in their second-round series matchup against the Florida Panthers, and have a chance to be swept on Wednesday night.

Sheldon Keefe stated, “It’s been a mixed bag in this series so far. At times we’ve played extremely well and then haven’t converted or haven’t gotten rewarded for it. At times we’ve been in control of the game and have given up the lead.”

So here we are. The Leafs are in do or die territory to try to keep their season alive and perhaps do what only four teams in history have done, win a series when they were down 3-0.

Let’s take a look at each of the four teams who managed to do what many think to be the impossible.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings: 1942 Stanley Cup Final

Oddly enough, the first team to pull off the 3-0 series comeback were the Toronto Maple Leafs themselves.

In 1942, the Detroit Red Wings managed to get victories in the first three games of the cup final to put the Leafs at risk of getting swept. The Leafs would force game seven off a shutout performance from Turk Broda in game six, and would win the 1942 Stanley Cup after a 3-1 victory.

New York Islanders  vs Pittsburgh Penguins: 1975 Second Round

Second round comebacks you say?

After the Penguins beat the Islanders 6-4 in game three, Head Coach Al Arbour turned to Glenn Resch, who was put in between-the-pipes in  to save the Islanders season in the second round down 3-0.

The Islanders starting goaltender Billy Smith was lit up through the first three games of this series, allowing 13 goals, with a .884 SVG%.

Resch came in and only allowed four goals in four games, posting a .969 SVG% to help the Islanders beat the Pens and advance to the conference finals, where the had to do the same thing, overcome a 3-0 series, this time against the Philadelphia Flyers.

They almost completed the comeback, but lost in game seven 4-1.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Boston Bruins: 2010 Second Round

Speaking of the Flyers, in 2010 they were down 3-0 in the second round against the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins won the first three games of the series. The first two were one-goal-games, but game three, Boston took a 4-1 victory in Philly to push the Flyers to the brink of elimination.

Philadelphia would win game four 5-4 in overtime, dominate game five 4-0, win game six 2-1, and take game seven 4-3.

The Flyers would ultimately make it to the Stanley Cup Final that year, but lost in six games against Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Los Angeles Kings vs San Jose Sharks: 2014 First Round

Imagine starting your playoff journey down 3-0 and winning the Stanley Cup, impossible right?

The Kings were down 3-0 after San Jose took game three in overtime, but the Kings responded in games five, six and seven, completing the remarkable comeback to advance to the second round.

LA would end up making it all the way to the Cup Final, beating the New York Rangers, winning the Stanley Cup for only the second time in the franchise’s history.

Can the Leafs create history?

If Toronto are able win this series , they will be the first team in history to successfully complete a 3-0 series comeback twice. So as Triple H says, Are you ready?