what a streak!?

Question

Ever since the last team to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a stanley cup playoff series (the 1975 New York Islanders), other teams have been in the same situation thousands of times but yet have not been able to make the big comeback like the '75 Isles and the '42 Leafs!
Tell me your opinion why this is such a difficult task to perform to come back from a 3-0 deficit !
And tell me if or when will this streak come to an end and what kind of team could make such a comeback!

Answer 1

Streak

1. A line, mark, smear, or band differentiated by color or texture from its surroundings.
2. An inherent, often contrasting quality: “There was a streak of wildness in him” (Olga Carlisle).
3. A ray or flash of light: the first streaks of dawn; a streak of lightning.
4. Informal.
1. A brief run or stretch, as of luck.
2. An unbroken series, as of wins or losses.
5. Mineralogy. The color of the fine powder produced when a mineral is rubbed against a hard surface. Used as a distinguishing characteristic.
6. Botany. Any of various viral diseases of plants characterized by the appearance of discolored stripes on the leaves or stems.
7. Microbiology. A bacterial culture inoculated by drawing a bacteria-laden needle across the surface of a solid culture medium.

Answer 2

First off, there have been fewer than 480 series played since 1975 (assuming 16 playoff teams) and not all were best of seven and fewer yet were 3-0 in favor of one team. So, your premise of 'thousands of times' is off by more than a little bit.

Now, what would be the ingredients to create this perfect storm of an 0-3 comeback? Ideally, the team that's facing 4 elimination games is the superior skilled team in the matchup.

The Islanders juggernaut of the 80's, for instance, was almost derailed by the Penguins in 1982. Michel Dion was a wall in goal and the Islanders had to pull out an OT victory to get back from an 0-2 deficit in a best of 5 series. The Isles were always the better team and eventually solved their overachieving rivals to move on.

This time, the Sabres are talented enough, but their competition are not pushovers by any means. Ottawa deserves to hold the advantage they've built and they aren't about to roll over for their opponents.

Furthermore, the one Buffalo victory was not a decisive one. Miller had to save his mates' bacon repeatedly, the Sabres were outshot again, they nearly relinquished a multiple goal lead again and held on for dear life as time ran out.

With all that said, if Buffalo wins on Saturday, all bets are off. The pressure shifts squarely to the Ottawa side and anything can happen from that point forward.

Can this be a perfect storm? Yes. Will it? Not likely. There's a reason it's called a PERFECT storm, afterall.

Answer 3

Any team that wins the first 3 and then loses 1, 2, or 3 more should be able to conjure a win on luck or sheer frustration. Every time in any pro sport that a team is in a 3-0 hole, they will bring up the three occurrances to keep hope alive. Don't forget the '04 Red Sox. Last night they were referred to during the NBA playoffs. It gives the players and fans hope and proof that it can happen again. It is not impossible, but it's next to impossible.

You need a team with a lot of luck and twice as much heart. Even that usually isn't enough.

Answer 4

Some Versus commentators have been saying that the team that is up by 3 has an 80% chance of winning the series. (I fear the accountability of Versus is not so great though...)

I kind of think it has a lot to do with the mentality of things: the team that's up 3 is really confident and will more than likely play hard to put their opponent away, while the team that has no wins so far are probably pretty down in the dumps.

On the other hand... Buffalo's Chris Drury said that being down 3-0, they were going to fight like dogs.

Haha, when I first read this question, I definitely thought, "Another Buffalo fan searches for optimism." Whether you are or not, I think the odds are heavily against them but a chance is a chance, however unlikely. Their last win defied the odds somewhat, but if they don't have three more games of what they did that game, it's all over in one loss.

Answer 5

simply said, and w/o insulting anyone ... hockey has the most pride of the major sports.

it's difficult to come back because the other team is not a "passive" opponent. they are AWARE that you are trying to not only win one game against them, but FOUR IN A ROW. they don't want to be a statistic. they DO want to move into the next round as quickly as possible. and mostly ... they do not want to give the other team any hope or momentum.

because of this, the other team that is up 3-0 will pour it on even stronger. so now, it's harder to get each successive comeback win, because the advantaged team is trying to slam the door. and it all comes back to pride.

i think that hockey players are also the most resistant to giving up. how do you think it feels to let a team come back and win 3, after being down 3-0? pretty bad, right? but i think that most hockey teams would have more heart than the Yankees did when they blew it (sorry, i had to use it as an example). meaning, even if it's game 7 after the series was 3-0, that hockey team that was on top originally is going to be fightin' mad. they will still try to slam the door. get that first goal quickly, etc. but again, momentum is huge, so why wait until game 7. they're gonna try to slam it in games 4, 5, or 6

Answer 6

Because if you were capable of beating your opponent, you would have done it at least once before going 3-0. Because once going down 3-0, you can't make a single mistake.

When will someone come back and win a 3-0 deficit? Not anytime soon, AND definitely not this year.

Answer 7

3-0 is nearly impossible to come back from. unless your the redsox. the reason is you get sooooo tired. the first 3 losees where you out, but then you have to go try to play harder then you did. 4 4 straight games, not to mention you must come out ontop. i believe the only teams who could come back are the pittsburgh penguins(crosby, malkin, staal, fleury; all young. they dont wear out.) and the New Jersey Devils/ cuz brodeur.. i mean goalies own and thats what your team needs to win, it also helps for HOME ICE ADVANTAGE. because, playing more games at home is easier then on the road. i believe no1 is good enough in the playoffs other then buffalo to come back from a 3-0 deficent. i think they actually have a chance..

Answer 8

Confidence. Once you believe you can win you play better.
It's like striking out a batter. Any pitcher can get two strikes but to get the final one is tough. Same with getting 4 wins.
When the momentum changes and a team starts believing it effects their opponent who start second guessing.
Buffalo has to beat Ottawa tonight in every part of the game and they will have that confidence.

Answer 9

When facing elimination there is no room for error.

One bad bounce or missed check and it is over.

So, I'd say the team to do would be good but also lucky.