List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits
 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with North America and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (March 2020) |
The following is the list of teams to rally from 3–0 series deficits by winning four straight games to win a best-of-seven playoff series. In the history of major North American pro sports, teams that were down 3–0 in the series came back and won the series 5 times; all but one of them were accomplished by National Hockey League (NHL) teams. Teams overcame 3–0 deficit in the final championship round once.
On the flip side, teams have had their 3-0 comeback fall short eight times: five in the NHL, and three in the NBA.
No team has overcome multiple 3-0 deficits, although the New York Islanders of the NHL nearly did. The Islanders were the closest to achieving this feat twice in the same postseason, having already done so in the 1975 quarterfinals, before falling short in game 7 of the semifinals.
MLB went to a best-of-seven format for the League Championship Series in 1985, the NHL followed suit for the first round in 1987, and the NBA did the same for the first round in 2003.
A "reverse sweep" is a commonly used nickname for such a situation, although this nickname also applies to 2–0 comebacks in best-of-five series as well.
Key
| Home^ | Indicates team down 3-0 was home team in game 7 |
| ~ | Indicates game seven in the championship round |
| * | Indicates the winner went on to win the championship |
National Hockey League
Four NHL teams have overcome 3–0 deficits, only one of which occurred in the Stanley Cup Finals. Three comebacks were completed with game 7 on road ice, while one was completed on home ice.
| Year and series | Winner that overcame deficit | Loser that blew lead | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 Stanley Cup Finals~ | Toronto Maple Leafs^* | Detroit Red Wings | Only time in the Stanley Cup Finals. Also the only time the comeback was completed at home |
| 1975 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals | New York Islanders | Pittsburgh Penguins | Won 8 games while facing elimination this playoff year. |
| 2010 Conference Semifinals | Philadelphia Flyers | Boston Bruins | Also overcame 3–0 deficit in the 7th game |
| 2014 First Round | Los Angeles Kings* | San Jose Sharks |
3-0 comebacks that fell short
Five other NHL teams have evened a series after being down 3–0, only to lose game 7. Four of these teams were the visiting team in game 7, while the Detroit Red Wings were the only home team in game 7.
| Year and series | Team down 0–3, lost 3-4 | Team up 3–0, won 4-3 | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 Semifinals | New York Rangers | Boston Bruins* | Bruins won game 7 in triple overtime |
| 1945 Stanley Cup Finals~ | Detroit Red Wings^ | Toronto Maple Leafs* | Red Wings nearly got revenge on Maple Leafs for blown 3-0 lead three years ago |
| 1975 Semifinals | New York Islanders | Philadelphia Flyers* | Islanders came back from 3–0 deficit to win in the previous round |
| 2011 Conference Quarterfinals | Chicago Blackhawks | Vancouver Canucks | Canucks won game 7 in overtime after Blackhawks tied it 1-1 with a shorthanded goal with 1:56 left |
| 2011 Conference Semifinals | Detroit Red Wings | San Jose Sharks | Second time this year a team forced a game 7 after down 3-0 |
Major League Baseball
Only 1 MLB team has overcome a 3–0 deficit to win the series. No MLB team has lost a game 7 after overcoming a 3–0 deficit.
| Year and series | Team that overcame deficit | Team that blew lead | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 ALCS | Boston Red Sox* | New York Yankees | Went on to win the World Series for first time since 1918 |
National Basketball Association
The NBA is the only major North American sport with a seven-game playoffs series where no team has overcome a 3–0 deficit. There have been 3 teams who came back to even the series, only to lose game 7.
3-0 comebacks that fell short
Three NBA teams have evened the series 3-3 after down 0–3, only to lose in game 7. All three teams were the visiting team in game 7.
| Year and series | Team down 0–3, lost 3-4 | Team up 3–0, won 4-3 | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 NBA Finals~ | New York Knicks | Rochester Royals* | |
| 1994 Conference Semifinals | Denver Nuggets | Utah Jazz | Nuggets also overcame a 2–0 deficit to win a best-of-5 the previous round |
| 2003 First Round | Portland Trail Blazers | Dallas Mavericks |
External links
- How many NBA teams have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-0
- [1] – A look at the 0–3 series comebacks in NHL history