April 22--REPORTING FROM WINNIPEG, Canada -- Only four teams in NHL history have rallied to win a best-of-seven playoff series after losing the first three games, but there's a recent example the Winnipeg Jets can hope to copy as they face the Ducks on Wednesday night at MTS Centre.
The Kings lost the first three games of their first-round series to San Jose last spring -- and were routed in the first two -- but came back to win the next four. And, of course, they went on to win the Stanley Cup for the second time in three seasons.
Can Winnipeg Coach Paul Maurice do what Kings Coach Darryl Sutter did last spring?
"Tough hill to climb for Winnipeg," Sutter said by email.
"They have led or been tied for most of series and the Ducks have confidence they can have big third periods. Paul is playoff-tested and his experience is still big factor I think. Our experience was definitely a big factor last year, in particular the top guys, starting with Jonathan Quick."
The Kings comeback last spring really began in the third game, even though they lost that one in overtime.
"We thought we had played real well in game three and had the resolve to want to play one more good game for better results," Sutter said. "For sure, the toughest game to win is the fourth one and the Ducks have lots of guys that have played and won.
"Should be great game again."
The other NHL teams that erased an 0-3 deficit are the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs against Detroit, the 1975 New York Islanders against Pittsburgh, and the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers against Boston.
