✨🔩2024 Stanley Cup Finals: Edmonton vs Florida: Panthers Stanley Cup Champions 🔩✨ (FLA Wins 4-3)

[JR Ewing]

Would this Panthers collapse be the worst in NHL history? Yes, and it’s not close

Sean McIndoe

7–8 minutes

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In theory, the question is right up my alley.

 

If the Panthers lose Game 7 on Monday, will it be the biggest collapse in NHL history?

 

It’s the sort of history-based debate that I’m usually all over. In fact, when it first became apparent that the Oilers were going to make a series of this Stanley Cup Final, I started thinking about how this piece could look. If you’ve been reading me over the years, you can probably picture how it would be laid out. We’d pose the question, then list a bunch of potential contenders for the honors. We’d weigh the pros and cons, putting it all in historical context, drop a few one-liners, and then arrive at a conclusion roughly 2,000 words later.

 

The problem is, when it comes to this Panthers collapse being the worst of all time, I don’t have 2,000 words for you. I don’t need them.

I only need one: Yes. And then a few more: It’s not even close.

 

Believe me, I tried. I went back over the history of teams blowing leads. But there’s no reasonable argument that anything in NHL history comes close to what we might be about to see.

 

Let’s start with the obvious comparison: The 1942 Stanley Cup Final, the only other time that a team came back from down 3-0 to win a championship. That’s not just in the NHL, by the way — it’s the only time it’s happened in any of MLB, NBA or NHL history. That year, the Maple Leafs came back to beat the Red Wings.

 

Does that work? Not really. Put aside that we’re talking more than eight decades ago, a series that virtually nobody reading this will have any recollection of watching. The early 1940s were also the middle of a World War, one that saw many of the world’s best young athletes called to serve overseas. The NHL’s MVP in 1942 was Tom Anderson. The points leader was Bryan Hextall. This wasn’t even the Original Six era, because that hadn’t started yet. I love NHL history as much as pretty much anyone out there, and even I’m not going to pretend that there’s any sort of comparison here.

 

Besides, those 1942 Red Wings weren’t very good. They’d finished fifth in a seven-team league, with a record well under .500, and had made the final only due to the league’s extremely strange playoff format. They were probably just happy to be there. Unlike, say, the Panthers, a team that’s spent weeks telling us about how they’ve promised themselves that they’d make it back to the final and finish the job.

 

So 1942 is out. But the problem is, once you do that, you’re really all out of realistic options. The Islanders were the next team to come back from down 3-0 to win a series, in 1975 against the Penguins. That was a matchup between a pair of recent-ish expansion teams. It was a big win for the Islanders, sure, and a bad loss for the Penguins. But it was the quarter-final. It’s not in the same ballpark.

 

The Bruins losing to the Flyers in 2010? Nope. That one was also in Round 2, and while it had the extra pathos of Game 4 going to overtime, not to mention the Bruins being up 3-0 in Game 7 and blowing that too, it wasn’t the final. Neither was the Kings’ win over the Sharks in 2014. That one may have been the most devastating collapse of the modern era, given all the weight of heartbreak the Sharks were carrying on their shoulders, but it was a first-round series. Next.

 

Except there isn’t a next, at least as far as 3-0 series are concerned. We just covered the entire history. And none of it even comes close to what’s happening right now.

 

Of course, a collapse doesn’t have to be from down 3-0. Open up the definition a bit, and we can talk about some of the teams that have blown 3-1 leads, including last year’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins to these same Panthers. There was the Leafs losing to the Habs in 2021, or the Flyers against the Devils in the Eric Lindros/Scott Stevens series in 2000, or any number of Washington Capitals collapses. Maybe the best candidate would be the Golden Knights losing to the Sharks in 2019, that famous game where they blew a 4-0 lead in the third period.

 

Expand the scope further and you could mention the 2011 Canucks blowing a 2-0 lead to the Bruins in the final, or the Red Wings doing the same to the Penguins while chasing back-to-back Cups. We could even get into individual games, like the Miracle on Manchester or It Was 4-1 or the Monday Night Miracle.

 

All those losses were devastating — the kind of absolute gut punches that some fans still aren’t ready to talk about. Those losses can make you cry. They can make you re-evaluate your fandom. They can leave lasting psychological scars.

But they’re not blowing a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, while seeking your franchise’s first championship, in a wired age where the whole world can watch and the hot takes will be flying.

 

The biggest collapse in NHL history? Maybe it’s the wrong question. What about the biggest in sports history, period?

 

That’s closer to a debate. I don’t think the NBA or even MLB can offer something close, although Red Sox and Yankees fans might disagree. The NFL could make a case for the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI. I don’t know enough about soccer or other sports, so maybe somebody can make an argument. Has an Olympic gold medal race ever ended with someone tripping over their own shoelaces and face-planting right at the finish line?

 

I don’t know. I’m not an expert on sports history. But I do know NHL history, and I know this one isn’t close. What we are witnessing is the greatest collapse in the history of the league, by a mile.

 

That is … if it happens.

 

That’s the Stanley Cup-sized caveat here. The Panthers are collapsing, which means they haven’t actually done it yet. There’s still Game 7, on home ice. That’s what you play all year long to earn, or so they say. The Oilers have won three straight, but three isn’t four, as the

 

Panthers are eminently qualified to tell you right now.

 

So those are the stakes on Monday. The Panthers win, and we all make jokes about how it was never in doubt as the Stanley Cup gets skated around the Florida rink and a new generation of hockey fans is made. Or they lose, and they go to the very top of the most miserable list you can make. There’s no middle ground left here, not anymore.

 

The worst collapse of all time? There’s no question at all. Except for one: Can the Panthers get the win they need, in their very last chance to avoid infamy?

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5582615/2024/06/22/nhl-stanley-cup-final-panthers-collapse/

[NHL HHOF]

 

[NHL HHOF]

 

[JR Ewing]

I was pretty sure it was closer than I thought, but I didn't have the heart to gather the numbers myself.

 

[JR Ewing]

Stuff like the above is evidence of why era-adjusting stats can be a worthwhile venture. That 1985 Oilers team ran into a single strong team in their entire Cup run.

 

Round 1: Kings, .425 win%

Best F- Marcel Dionne, but he did his annual playoff disappearance

Best D- Mark Hardy

Goalie- Bob Janecyk (I couldn't think of the last time I heard his name)

 

Round 2: Jets, .528 win%

Best F - Dale Hawerchuk, but he was injured, so it was Paul McLean

Best D - Randy Carlyle

Goalie - Brian Hayward

The Jets had nothing without Hawerchuck in the lineup, and Gretzky ate Hayward alive, getting 13 points in a 4-0 sweep.

 

Round 3: Black Hawks (remember how the name was split back then?) .475 win%

Best F - Denis Savard (who never cared that there were two nets on the ice)

Best D - Doug Wilson

Goalie - Murray Bannerman

How about a Campbell Conference Final blueline of Doug Wilson, Behn Wilson, Jack O'Callahan, Marc Bergevin, Bob Murray and Randy Boyd? Well, Gretzky loved this matchup, scored 18 points in the series.

 

Finals: the Flyers, who were the aforementioned strong team. A deep group with a future HOF Mark Howe who wasn't yet 30, a deep and big group of forwards, and a terrific young goalie who didn't know how close his end would be. The Flyers were overwhelmed by star players who were pretty much as fresh as daisies and basically spent the first three rounds taking batting practice.

 

McDavid's scoring run has been accomplished against a much more difficult set of opponents, and that's not really debatable.

 

 

[FD19372]

On 6/5/2024 at 3:17 PM, pilldoc said:

 

B ..(boy)

I ..  (I)

L .. (like / love)

L .. (losing)

S .. (Super Bowls)

 

 

 

Good one...and not wide right, at all.

[Jimtown guy]

 

It will be all for not if the Oilers don’t finish it off tonight. This has no doubt been one of the craziest finals in a long time. Oilers were dead in the water after game 3 and now it appears the Panthers are. Hoping it goes overtime tonight. That would be fitting 

Edited June 24 by Jimtown guy

[FD19372]

5 minutes ago, Jimtown guy said:

 

If will be all all for if the Oilers don’t finish it off tonight. This has no doubt been one of the craziest finals in a long time. Oilers were dead in the water after game 3 and now it appears the Panthers are. Hoping it goes overtime tonight. That would be fitting 

If the Oilers score first, I'm afraid that for Panthers fans (insert joke here, about both of them lol) they will probably lose by three or more goals. However, it'll be interesting to see how the Oilers respond, if they're trailing after two periods. I think the Panthers definitely, or should definitely, want to score that first goal tonight, and play with the lead. NHL fans in Canada and America, deserve a Game 7 overtime.

 

Why not tonight?

[SaucyJack]

18 hours ago, JR Ewing said:

Open up the definition a bit, and we can talk about some of the teams that have blown 3-1 leads, including….any number of Washington Capitals collapses.

Capitals lead the league all-time in this painful category:

 

1987: Islanders

1992: Penguins

1995: Penguins

2010: Canadiens

2015: Rangers

 

…exacerbated by the two game 7 home losses in quadruple OT:

 

1987: Islanders (Pat Lafontaine)

1996: Penguins (Petr Nedved)

 

…and not helped by blowing 2-0 leads also, most memorably:

 

2003: Lightning

 

 

I would still agree with you, though, that the Florida Panthers would own the biggest single series collapse of all time…should they lose tonight.

 

Washington would still easily own its ignominious hold on the largest collective set of collapses in NHL history.

Edited June 24 by SaucyJack

[Alexandron]

I don't think it will be the biggest series collapse if Panthers lose. Oilers even in lost games were much better. Of course,  Oilers without McDavid's input wouldn't be here. He is the best talent happened very rare  ,probably  once in a century . The best in assists,one of the best in points in NHL per playoffs season. What else Oilers need? To put the last nail into the Panthers coffin tonight. The biggest collapse Panthers had last year when stupidly lost to not the best Vegas team.

[GratefulFlyers]

McDavid makes history and I expect more to come...first team since '42 to win after 0-3 in the SCF. The Panthers have to be shellshocked - any team would be. They're only prayer is getting on the scoresheet first. If they give up the first one...esp if it's another D breakdown, odd-man...

 

Listening to Paul Maurice, Sam Reinhart, a few other Cats I don't get the "just another game" line they're throwing around. Staying calm and cool is one thing but they lost 3 straight. I'm not sure "we're not changing anything about our game" is the best approach.

[NHL HHOF]

 

[FD19372]

Verhaeghe scores the Cup clincher for Florida, in double OT. It's going to be a tremendous night of Game 7 hockey. Nothing tells me this is going to happen, other than a gut feeling. I think this will be the best Stanley Cup finals Game 7, since 1954. That was well before my time.

[JR Ewing]

Eleven years ago today:

 

[FD19372]

1 hour ago, Alexandron said:

I don't think it will be the biggest series collapse if Panthers lose. Oilers even in lost games were much better. Of course,  Oilers without McDavid's input wouldn't be here. He is the best talent happened very rare  ,probably  once in a century . The best in assists,one of the best in points in NHL per playoffs season. What else Oilers need? To put the last nail into the Panthers coffin tonight. The biggest collapse Panthers had last year when stupidly lost to not the best Vegas team.

The Panthers totally lost their discipline in last year's finals, and couldn't stop Stone or Eichel. Also, Aden Hill was a brick wall. They were outclassed. This year, yeah they're having their fair share of problems defensively, but they can't score and their power play has been anemic. IF...they can get that going, they have a great chance to win this hockey game. I think they will get the PP going a bit tonight, finally.

Edited Tuesday at 12:04 AM by FD19372

[GratefulFlyers]

I think you're right @FD19372 the Cats better get on the board first...otherwise...I don't think the fans will turn on them but the DOUBT that must be in their heads already... going down 1-0 is usually not a big deal but it is tonight for the Panthers.

[Math]

I had lived from the inside one of those 0-3 to 4-3 series win a long time ago on the other side of the Atlantic where I was some sort of beat writer for my team. We easily won games 1 to 3 and lost a bit stupidly game #4 in OT. Game #5 was close but we lost it again and I realized at that point that the series fipped even if we were still leading 3-2. We get demolished in game #6 and had to play game #7 at home. I had to write the game article and I wrote it before the game.

 

We lost game #7 at home.

 

I didn't need to change a single comma in the paper and I put it online just after the final whistle.

 

That series looked really close of that one in terms of sequence of events, momentum and all that stuff.

 

Oilers will win 3-2.

 

 

[NHL HHOF]

 

[FD19372]

Foegele hits Montour in the chicklets. Panthers PP.

[GratefulFlyers]

Figures it's Verhaeghe ... just 1 goal until that one...the guy is so clutch but not in the Final...till now. 

 

edit: and another Panther's D breakdown... jeez they're just killing themselves. Well that lead didn't last long...

 

Edited Tuesday at 12:34 AM by GratefulFlyers

[FD19372]

Panthers don't score on their PP,  but right after that Verhaeghe tips a Rodrigues shot past Skinner. 1-0, Florida. Huge first goal for the Panthers, IMHO.

[OccamsRazor]

Bob comes up short.

 

1-1

[FD19372]

Janmark scores on a breakaway for the Oilers. Game tied at 1.

[GratefulFlyers]

then gave it right back... trading goals with the Oilers...probably not going to end well for Florida

[Tomdog]

Lot of Edmonton fans in Florida.