LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings have a couple of tremendous comeback victories in their playoff history, despite so many years of post-season failure.
On April 10, 1982, at the Forum in Inglewood, California [their first permanent home arena], the Kings found themselves looking up at a 5-0 deficit after two periods against the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their first round playoff series. But the Kings came roaring back to score five straight goals in the third period and then win it in overtime, 6-5.
19 years later, the Kings were down 3-0 after two periods to the vaunted Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of their first round playoff series. All looked lost, but the Kings came back to win the game in overtime, 4-3 on April 18, 2001 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
That 1982 game, known as the “Miracle on Manchester,” is the greatest comeback in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not quite as miraculous, the 2001 comeback was nearly as amazing, and became known as the “Frenzy on Figueroa.”
A third huge comeback can now be added to the Kings’ history. But this time, they were the ones who coughed up a big lead.
Indeed, the Kings took 3-0 lead into the second period of Game 3 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the San Jose Sharks on April 19 at Staples Center. They added another goal early in the second period to lead the Sharks, 4-0.
But then, the Kings got complacent and stopped playing within their system and structure. As a result, their entire game fell apart in all three zones, but, most notably, in their defensive zone.
When it was all over, the Kings gave up five goals in the second period, and another in overtime—each due to non-existent defensive coverage—for a embarrassing 6-5 loss, one that could go down in history as the Flop on Figueroa.
With the loss, the Kings now trail the best-of-seven series, 2-1.
- The Kings are now 18-21 all-time in playoff overtime games (11-9 at home).
- The Kings are now 10-23 all-time in the third game of a playoff series.
- When down 1-2 in a playoff series, the Kings have won the series five-of-15 times.
- The Kings scored goals 13 seconds apart in the first period. The club playoff record is eleven seconds (April 22, 1990 vs. Edmonton: Larry Robinson and Todd Elik).
- The teams combined for seven goals in the second period. The club and NHL playoff record is nine (April 10, 1990 vs. Calgary).
- The Kings had five different goal scorers tonight (Brad Richardson had two points on a goal and an assist).
- Dustin Brown had nine hits in the game (23 in the series).
- The last time the Kings had a playoff overtime game at home was May 6, 2001 vs. Colorado (Glen Murray scored game-winner in the second overtime).
Raw audio interviews
(Edited to remove extraneous material and dead air)
Dustin Brown (1:02)
Rob Scuderi (0:36)
Matt Greene (1:56)
Terry Murray (3:41)
Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan (6:59)
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The key thing is mentally getting the players, coaches, and fans to realize that the series is only 2 games to 1, and thursday’s day will be huge. I will be there rooting my team on loud as ever GO KINGS GO !!!