In theory, that question is right up my alley.
If the Panthers lose Game 7 on Monday, would it be the biggest collapse in NHL history?
This is the kind of historically-driven argument I’m always interested in. In fact, when it became clear that the Oilers would be making a Stanley Cup Final series, I started thinking about what this article would look like. Long-time readers of my work can probably guess how it will be structured: I’ll pose a question, then name a few teams that I think are contenders for the honor, weigh their pros and cons, put it all in historical context, throw in a few one-liners, and come to a conclusion about 2,000 words later.
The thing is, I can’t write 2,000 words about how this Panthers collapse is the worst ever. There’s no need for that.
All you need is one: Yes, and a few more: Not at all.
Believe me, I tried, I looked back at the history of teams that have blown leads, but there is nothing in NHL history you could reasonably argue comes close to what we may be about to see.
Let’s start with the obvious comparison: The 1942 Stanley Cup Finals is the only time a team has come back from 3-0 down to win the championship. This isn’t just an NHL thing, by the way. It’s the only time in MLB, NBA, or NHL history that this has ever happened. That year, the Maple Leafs came back to beat the Red Wings.
Does that work? Not really. Aside from the fact that it was over 80 years ago and almost no one reading this has any memory of watching that series. The early 1940s was also the height of a world war, and many of the world’s best young athletes were called up to serve overseas. The 1942 NHL MVP was Tom Anderson. The points leader was Brian Hextall. This wasn’t even the Original 6 era, because it wasn’t yet. I love NHL history like most people, but I’m not going to pretend there’s any comparison here.
And the 1942 Red Wings weren’t very good, finishing fifth in a seven-team league with a winning percentage well below .500 and only making the Finals thanks to the league’s very odd playoff format, and were probably happy just to get to the Finals — unlike, say, the Panthers, who spent weeks talking about how they’d sworn to themselves that they’d get to the Finals and get the job done.
That rules out 1942. But the problem is, if you do that, you’re left with no real options at all. The Islanders were the next team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the series against the Penguins in 1975. This was a matchup between two relatively recent expansion teams. It was certainly a big win for the Islanders and a disappointing loss for the Penguins. But it was in the quarterfinals. Not on the same level.
The Bruins lost to the Flyers in 2010? No. That was a second-round game that went into overtime and then, even more heartbreaking, saw the Bruins lead 3-0 in Game 7 before losing, but it wasn’t the finals. The Kings’ win over the Sharks in 2014 wasn’t the finals either. It may have been the most devastating collapse of the modern era, given the heartbreak the Sharks were carrying, but it was a first-round series. Next.
However, at least when it comes to 3-0 series, there will be no next time. We’ve covered the entire history, and none of it comes close to what’s happening right now.
Of course, collapses don’t always come from being down 3-0. If we broaden the definition a bit, we can talk about several teams that have blown 3-1 leads, including the Bruins losing to those same Panthers after winning the Presidents Trophy last year. There are the Leafs’ loss to the Habs in 2021, the Flyers’ loss to the Devils in the Eric Lindros/Scott Stevens series in 2000, and plenty of Washington Capitals collapses. Perhaps the best candidate is the Golden Knights’ loss to the Sharks in 2019, that famous game where they blew a 4-0 lead in the third period.
If you go even further, you could mention the Canucks losing to the Bruins after leading 2-0 in the 2011 Finals, or the Red Wings doing the same to the Penguins while trying to win back-to-back championships. You could also cover individual games like the Manchester Miracle, the 4-1, or the Monday Night Miracle.
All these losses have been devastating. They’ve been such a complete shock that some fans aren’t yet ready to talk about. These losses may make you cry. They may make you reevaluate your status as a fan. And they may leave lasting psychological scars.
But in the internet age, with the whole world watching and passionate opinions flying, you’re not going to let a 3-0 lead slip away in the Stanley Cup Finals while trying to win the franchise’s first championship.
Biggest collapse in NHL history? Maybe that’s the wrong question. What do you think about the biggest collapse in sports history?
That’s an argument in the making. Red Sox and Yankees fans might disagree, but I’m not convinced the NBA or even MLB could offer anything close to that. The NFL could argue that the Falcons lost a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI. I don’t know much about football or other sports, so maybe someone can make an argument. Has an Olympic gold medal race ever ended with a player tripping over his shoelaces and falling face-first at the finish line?
I don’t know. I’m no sports history expert. But I know the history of the NHL, and I know this collapse isn’t even close. We’re witnessing the biggest collapse in the history of the league.
That is… if that happens.
That’s a Stanley Cup-caliber warning. The Panthers are falling apart, which means they haven’t really done it yet. There’s still Game 7 to come on home ice. You play all year and you win, they say. The Oilers have won three in a row, but three wins isn’t four. The Panthers are well qualified to say that right now.
Here’s the bet for Monday: If the Panthers win, the Stanley Cup will fly over the rink in Florida and a new generation of hockey fans will be born. If the Panthers win, everyone will joke that it was never in doubt. Or if the Panthers lose, they’ll top the list of most miserable teams. There’s no middle ground left.
Worst collapse in history? No question at all. Just one question: Can the Panthers get the win they need in their final chance to avoid disgrace?
(Photo: Curtis Como/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
