List of teams that have overcome 3–1 series deficits

The following is the list of teams that have overcome 3–1 series deficits mainly concerning North American professional sports within a best-of-seven series. The listed teams won three consecutive games after being down three games to one. Unsuccessful comebacks are also listed, in which teams evened a series after being behind 3–1, then lost the final game of the series.

The Chicago Cubs celebrating their victory in the 2016 World Series, which they won in seven games after trailing three games to one

The best-of-seven playoff structure is common in North American professional sports, particularly in the sports of baseball, basketball, and ice hockey, and prominently in three of the major North American professional sports leagues: Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League.

There are also some intermediate North American leagues below the major league level that use the best-of-seven format, such as hockey's Calder Cup. The format is also used outside of North America, including 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.

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 is similar to a comeback from a 2–0 series deficit in a best-of-five series, which also requires winning three straight games.

Implicit in overcoming a 3–1 series deficit are all teams that 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 "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.

There have been three instances of a team coming back from a 3–1 deficit twice in the same postseason, occurring once in the MLB, NBA, and NHL. The most recent instance was by the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA playoffs. The other two instances occurred by the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 MLB postseason and the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Within the World Hockey Association and American Basketball Association, which each merged with the NHL and NBA, respectively, only one team came back from a 3–1 deficit: the Indiana Pacers came back to defeat the Kentucky Colonels in Eastern Division Semifinals of the 1969 ABA Playoffs. The WHA had just one team force a Game 7 after being down 3-1 with the Quarterfinals in the 1976 WHA playoffs; the Indianapolis Racers forced Game 7 but lost to the New England Whalers.

Key

	Indicates the team down 3–1 was the home team in game seven
	Indicates series in the championship round
Eventual champion	Indicates the series winner went on to win the championship

Major League Baseball

Successful comebacks

MLB teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 14 times (including one 3–0 deficit), six of which occurred in the World Series.^[1] This does not count the 1903 World Series, during which the Boston Americans (or Puritans, or Pilgrims, depending on the source, and later known as the Red Sox) came back from a 3–1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, five games to three, as that was a best-of-nine series.^[2]

Year and series	Series Winner	Series Loser	Note(s)
1925 World Series	Pittsburgh Pirates	Washington Senators	First major North American professional sports team to overcome 3–1 deficit in a best-of-7 series.[3][4]
1958 World Series	New York Yankees	Milwaukee Braves	Yankees win games six and seven in Milwaukee.[3][4]
1968 World Series	Detroit Tigers	St. Louis Cardinals	Tigers won games six and seven in St. Louis. Outscored Cardinals 17–2 during those games.[3]
1979 World Series	Pittsburgh Pirates	Baltimore Orioles	Pirates won games six and seven in Baltimore.[3][5]
1985 ALCS	Kansas City Royals	Toronto Blue Jays	The Royals became the first MLB team to overcome two 2–0 and 3–1 deficits in the same postseason year. The first year the LCS became a seven-game series.[3][4]
1985 World Series	Kansas City Royals	St. Louis Cardinals
1986 ALCS	Boston Red Sox	California Angels	The Angels were one strike away from winning the pennant in game five.[3][4]
1996 NLCS	Atlanta Braves	St. Louis Cardinals	Braves outscored the Cardinals 32–1 over last three games.[4][6][7]
2003 NLCS	Florida Marlins	Chicago Cubs	The Steve Bartman incident in Game 6; went on to win the World Series.[3]
2004 ALCS	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	Overcame 3–0 deficit;[3][8] went on to win the World Series for first time since 1918.[4]
2007 ALCS	Boston Red Sox	Cleveland Indians	Boston outscored Cleveland 30–5 in the final three games. Went on to win the World Series.[3][4]
2012 NLCS	San Francisco Giants	St. Louis Cardinals	Also overcame 2–0 deficit in the NLDS;[9] went on to win the World Series. St. Louis' fourth blown 3–1 lead in franchise history.[3][4][10] The Giants outscored the Cardinals 20–1 in the final three games.
2016 World Series	Chicago Cubs	Cleveland Indians	First World Series championship since 1908 World Series. Cubs won games six and seven in Cleveland. Only team to complete the comeback by winning the seventh game in extra innings.[3][4][11]
2020 NLCS[note 1]	Los Angeles Dodgers	Atlanta Braves	Also trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win; went on to win the World Series for the first time since 1988. Series was played at a neutral site due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the series had no off-days.[3][4][12]

Unsuccessful comebacks

Six other MLB teams have evened the series after being down 3–1 (including one down 3–0), only to lose game seven.

Year and series	Series Loser	Series Winner	Note(s)
1912 World Series	New York Giants	Boston Red Sox	An eighth game was played in Boston following a tie in Game 2 due to darkness. The Giants were leading 2–1 heading to the bottom of tenth inning before Boston rallied to win 3–2.
1967 World Series	Boston Red Sox	St. Louis Cardinals	Cardinals won game seven in Boston in Bob Gibson's third complete game victory of the Series. Of the five times the Cardinals have been forced into a game seven after leading a best-of-seven series 3–1, this is the only time they have been victorious in game seven.
1972 World Series	Cincinnati Reds	Oakland Athletics	Athletics won game seven in Cincinnati, becoming the first team ever to win two winner-take-all games in the same year in MLB postseason history.
1992 NLCS	Pittsburgh Pirates	Atlanta Braves	Game seven took place in Atlanta. The Pirates entered the bottom of the ninth leading 2–0, and were still ahead 2–1 and one out away from advancing to the World Series, but lost in the ninth inning courtesy of Francisco Cabrera's two-run single with the bases loaded as the Braves defeated the Pirates in the NLCS in seven games for the second straight year.
2008 ALCS	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	Rays won the first League Championship Series after almost blowing a 3–1 lead since the 1992 Braves; they dethroned the defending champions.
2020 ALCS[note 1]	Houston Astros	Tampa Bay Rays	Rays won the League Championship Series after almost blowing a 3–0 lead. Series was played at a neutral site due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the series had no off-days.[13][14]

National Basketball Association

Successful comebacks

NBA teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 13 times, only one of which occurred in the NBA Finals.^[15] The NBA is the only major North American sport with seven-game playoff series where no team has overcome a 3–0 deficit.

Year and series	Series Winner	Series Loser	Note(s)
1968 Eastern Division finals	Boston Celtics	Philadelphia 76ers	The Celtics won two games on the road during the comeback, and also won the NBA Finals.[16]
1970 Western Division semifinals	Los Angeles Lakers	Phoenix Suns	The Lakers later reach the NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks in seven games.[16]
1979 Eastern Conference finals	Washington Bullets	San Antonio Spurs	Reach NBA Finals, where they lost to Seattle SuperSonics in five games.[16]
1981 Eastern Conference finals	Boston Celtics	Philadelphia 76ers	Won the NBA Finals, won games five and six by two points each, and game seven by one point.[16]
1995 Western Conference semifinals	Houston Rockets	Phoenix Suns	Also trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series and eventually back-to-back NBA Finals, where they swept the Shaq-led Orlando Magic in four games; second time a team won two games on the road from the 3–1 deficit.[16]
1997 Eastern Conference semifinals	Miami Heat	New York Knicks	A players' fight in Game 5 resulted in the suspension of several key Knicks players, including Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and Charlie Ward for Game 6, and John Starks and Larry Johnson for Game 7 in Miami.[16]
2003 Eastern Conference first round	Detroit Pistons	Orlando Magic	First year the first round expanded to a best-of-seven series.[16]
2006 Western Conference first round	Phoenix Suns	Los Angeles Lakers	With the Lakers' comeback in 1970, this was the first time in NBA history where two franchises have overcome a 3–1 series deficit to win against one another.[16]
2015 Western Conference semifinals	Houston Rockets	Los Angeles Clippers	Doc Rivers became first coach to blow multiple 3–1 leads after also coaching the Magic in 2003.[16][17]
2016 Western Conference finals	Golden State Warriors	Oklahoma City Thunder	Leandro Barbosa became the first player to be part of multiple 3–1 comebacks after also playing for the Suns in 2006.[16][18]
2016 NBA Finals	Cleveland Cavaliers	Golden State Warriors	The first time a 3–1 deficit has been overcome in the NBA Finals; Golden State also had the NBA's best-ever regular season record of 73–9 and were considered heavy favorites to win the title; third time a team won two away games from the 3–1 deficit; the Warriors became first NBA team to overcome a 3–1 deficit and then blow a 3–1 lead in the same playoff year.[16][19][20]
2020 Western Conference first round[note 1]	Denver Nuggets	Utah Jazz	In Game 7, Nikola Jokić scored the go-ahead hook shot with 27.8 seconds remaining in regulation. Mike Conley Jr.'s potential series-winning three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.
2020 Western Conference semifinals[note 1]	Denver Nuggets	Los Angeles Clippers	First NBA team to come back from 3–1 deficit back-to-back in a playoff run; fourth team to win two games as the designated road team during the comeback.[16][21][22][23] Second blown 3–1 series lead in Clippers' franchise history and second such blown lead in five years; only the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns have blown two 3–1 series leads (albeit in a much longer time period). Third such blown lead for head coach Doc Rivers.

Unsuccessful comebacks

NBA teams have overcome 3–1 deficits to force a seventh game 23 times, only to lose the series. In four of these instances, a team was down 3–0 in the series.

Year and series	Series Loser	Series Winner	Note(s)
1951 NBA Finals	New York Knicks	Rochester Royals	The Knicks become the first team to force a seventh game after falling behind 3–0 in the series. It is the only championship for the franchise, now the Sacramento Kings.
1966 Western Division finals	St. Louis Hawks	Los Angeles Lakers
1966 NBA Finals	Los Angeles Lakers	Boston Celtics
1971 Eastern Conference semifinals	Philadelphia 76ers	Baltimore Bullets
1973 Eastern Conference finals	Boston Celtics	New York Knicks	The Knicks become the first team to avoid losing an NBA playoff series after squandering a 3–1 lead by winning the seventh game on the road. First game seven loss in Celtics history.
1978 Western Conference semifinals	Milwaukee Bucks	Denver Nuggets	First NBA playoff series victory for the Nuggets.
1979 Eastern Conference semifinals	Atlanta Hawks	Washington Bullets	Remains the most recent season the Bullets/Wizards franchise has advanced past this round of the playoffs.
	Philadelphia 76ers	San Antonio Spurs	First NBA playoff series victory in Spurs history. San Antonio would again be forced to a seventh game after having a 3–1 series lead in the Conference Finals, but this time lost the seventh game.
1981 Western Conference semifinals	Phoenix Suns	Kansas City Kings	The Kings became the first team in NBA playoff history seeded lower than fourth in the conference to eliminate the top-seeded team in the conference in the Conference Semifinals.
1982 Eastern Conference finals	Boston Celtics	Philadelphia 76ers	The 76ers avoided losing a 3–1 series advantage to the Celtics for a third time (and a second time in as many years). This currently remains the only seventh game the 76ers/Nationals franchise has won on the road.
1987 Eastern Conference semifinals	Milwaukee Bucks	Boston Celtics
1994 Western Conference semifinals	Denver Nuggets	Utah Jazz	The Nuggets became the second NBA team to overcome a 3–0 series deficit to force a seventh game after becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the First Round.
1995 Eastern Conference semifinals	New York Knicks	Indiana Pacers	Patrick Ewing's game-tying layup attempt at the buzzer just misses as the Pacers avenge their playoff series losses to the Knicks over the previous two seasons.
1996 Western Conference finals	Utah Jazz	Seattle SuperSonics
1997 Western Conference semifinals	Seattle SuperSonics	Houston Rockets	Houston avenges their playoff series loss against the SuperSonics in the previous year's Conference Semifinals.
2000 Western Conference finals	Portland Trail Blazers	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles overcomes a 15-point deficit with ten minutes remaining to comeback in game seven while denying the Trail Blazers of a series comeback in the process.
2003 Western Conference first round	Portland Trail Blazers	Dallas Mavericks	The Trail Blazers become the third NBA team to force a seventh game after falling behind 3–0 in the series.
2006 Western Conference semifinals	San Antonio Spurs	Dallas Mavericks	The Mavericks become the first NBA team to deny the comeback by winning the seventh game in overtime.
2012 Western Conference first round	Denver Nuggets	Los Angeles Lakers
	Memphis Grizzlies	Los Angeles Clippers
2013 Eastern Conference first round	Brooklyn Nets	Chicago Bulls
2023 Eastern Conference finals	Boston Celtics	Miami Heat	Celtics became the first team to host a game seven after trailing 3–0 in a series.
2025 Western Conference first round	Houston Rockets	Golden State Warriors

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.^[24] The Rangers, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Montreal Canadiens are tied with the most successful 3–1 series comebacks in the NHL, with three. A team has comeback from being down 3–0 four times, and only one instance has occurred during the Stanley Cup Finals, accomplished in 1942 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who initially trailed 3–0.^[25]

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.[26]
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.[27][28]
1987 Norris Division finals	Detroit Red Wings	Toronto Maple Leafs	Trailed 2–0 in the series before coming back to win the series.[29][30]
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.[31]As of 2025, this remains the most recent playoff season where the Kings eliminated the Oilers in the playoffs.
1990 Smythe Division semifinals	Edmonton Oilers	Winnipeg Jets	Went on to win the Stanley Cup.
1991 Norris Division semifinals	St. Louis Blues	Detroit Red Wings	St. Louis outscored Detroit 12–3 over the last three games.[32]
1992 Norris Division semifinals	Detroit Red Wings	Minnesota North Stars	Trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series.[33]
1992 Smythe Division semifinals	Vancouver Canucks	Winnipeg Jets	Canucks won game five by six goals and games six and seven by five goals each.[33]
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.[34][35]
1994 Western Conference quarterfinals	Vancouver Canucks	Calgary Flames	The final three games all required overtime (game seven needed 2OT).[36]
1995 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Pittsburgh Penguins	Washington Capitals	Second time Washington has blown a 3–1 series lead to Pittsburgh.[37][38][39]
1998 Western Conference quarterfinals	Edmonton Oilers	Colorado Avalanche	Curtis Joseph stopped 92/93 shots over the last three games.[40]
1999 Western Conference quarterfinals	St. Louis Blues	Phoenix Coyotes	Third blown 3–1 lead in franchise history; team relocated from Winnipeg in 1996.[41]
2000 Eastern Conference finals	New Jersey Devils	Philadelphia Flyers	Won the Stanley Cup.[42][43]
2003 Western Conference quarterfinals	Minnesota Wild	Colorado Avalanche	First playoff series in Minnesota Wild franchise history.
	Vancouver Canucks	St. Louis Blues	Third 3–1 deficit comeback in Canucks' franchise history.[44]
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.[45][46]
2009 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Washington Capitals	New York Rangers	Trailed 2–0 in the series before rallying to win the series.[47]
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 a 3–0 deficit in the series and a 3–0 goals deficit in Game 7.[48]
2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinals	Tampa Bay Lightning	Pittsburgh Penguins	Penguins' second blown 3–1 series lead.[49][50]
2013 Western Conference semifinals	Chicago Blackhawks	Detroit Red Wings	Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Red Wings' third blown 3–1 series lead.[51][52]
2014 Western Conference first round	Los Angeles Kings	San Jose Sharks	Overcame 3–0 deficit; went on to win the Stanley Cup.
2014 Eastern Conference Second Round	New York Rangers	Pittsburgh Penguins	Penguins' third blown 3–1 series lead.[53]
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.[54][55]
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.[56][57] 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 lose the series in the seventh game subsequently. Six 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 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.[58]
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.[59][60]
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.[61][62][63]
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.[64]
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.[65]
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.[66][67][68] The Rangers never trailed in game seven, winning their first Stanley Cup in 54 years and putting an end to the Curse of 1940.[69]
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.[70]
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.[71]
2002 Western Conference quarterfinals	Los Angeles Kings	Colorado Avalanche	For the second consecutive year, Chris Drury scores the series-winning goal for Colorado.[72]
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. Until the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals (which also involved the Oilers coming back from a series deficit but losing game seven), this was the most recent Cup Final in which a team had forced a seventh game after trailing the series 3–1, and was also 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.
	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[note 1]	Colorado Avalanche	Dallas Stars	Joel Kiviranta scores a hat trick along with the series-winning goal in overtime.
	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[note 1]	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 the series, forcing a game seven, but subsequently losing 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.
2024 Stanley Cup Finals	Edmonton Oilers	Florida Panthers	Trailed 3–0; Panthers won first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

See also

• List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits
• List of teams that have overcome 2–0 series deficits in a best-of-five series

Notes

1. Played at a neutral site