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The following is the list of teams to overcome 3–1 series deficits by winning three straight games to win a best-of-seven playoff series. In the history of major North American pro sports, teams that were down 3–1 in the series came back and won the series 52 times, more than half of them were accomplished by National Hockey League (NHL) teams. Teams overcame 3–1 deficit in the final championship round eight times, six were accomplished by Major League Baseball (MLB) teams in the World Series. Teams overcoming 3–0 deficit by winning four straight games were accomplished five times, four times in the NHL and once in MLB. The Boston Red Sox of MLB and the Vancouver Canucks of NHL each overcame 3–1 deficits the most at three times, while the Washington Capitals of NHL blew 3–1 leads the most at five times, followed by the St. Louis Cardinals of MLB at four times (including twice in the World Series). Two teams have overcome 3–1 deficits multiple times in the single playoffs: the Kansas City Royals of MLB in 1985 and the Minnesota Wild of the NHL in 2003. Two teams have also overcome 3-1 deficits in a single playoffs only to have the favor returned to them: the Golden State Warriors of the NBA in 2016, and the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL in 2003. Major League Baseball MLB teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 13 times (including 3–0 deficit 1 time), six of which occurred in the World Series. This does not count the 1903 World Series, in which the Boston Americans (later known as the Red Sox) came back from down 3 games to 1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, as that series was a best-of-nine series. | Year and series | Winner that overcame deficit | Loser that blew lead | Note(s) |
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| 1925 World Series | Pittsburgh Pirates | Washington Senators | First major North American pro sports team to overcome 3–1 deficit | | 1958 World Series | New York Yankees | Milwaukee Braves | | 1968 World Series | Detroit Tigers | St. Louis Cardinals | | 1979 World Series | Pittsburgh Pirates | Baltimore Orioles | | 1985 ALCS | Kansas City Royals | Toronto Blue Jays | Went on to overcome 3–1 deficit in the World Series | | 1985 World Series | Kansas City Royals | St. Louis Cardinals | Also overcame 3–1 deficit in the ALCS | | 1986 ALCS | Boston Red Sox | California Angels | Were one strike away from elimination in Game 5 | | 1996 NLCS | Atlanta Braves | St. Louis Cardinals | | 2003 NLCS | Florida Marlins | Chicago Cubs | Steve Bartman incident in Game 6; went on to win the World Series | | 2004 ALCS | Boston Red Sox | New York Yankees | Overcame 3–0 deficit; went on to win the World Series for first time since 1918 | | 2007 ALCS | Boston Red Sox | Cleveland Indians | Went on to win the World Series | | 2012 NLCS | San Francisco Giants | St. Louis Cardinals | Also overcame 2–0 deficit in the NLDS; went on to win the World Series | | 2016 World Series}} | Chicago Cubs | Cleveland Indians | First World Series championship since 1908 |
National Basketball Association NBA teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 11 times, only one of which occurred in the NBA Finals. | Year and series | Winner that overcame deficit | Loser that blew lead | Note(s) |
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| 1968 Eastern Division Finals | Boston Celtics | Philadelphia 76ers | Went on to win the NBA Finals | | 1970 Western Division Finals | Los Angeles Lakers | Phoenix Suns | | 1979 Eastern Conference Finals | Washington Bullets | San Antonio Spurs | | 1981 Eastern Conference Finals | Boston Celtics | Philadelphia 76ers | Went on to win the NBA Finals | | 1995 Western Conference Semifinals | Houston Rockets | Phoenix Suns | Went on to win the NBA Finals | | 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals | Miami Heat | New York Knicks | | 2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals | Detroit Pistons | Orlando Magic | | 2006 Western Conference Quarterfinals}} | Phoenix Suns | Los Angeles Lakers | | 2015 Western Conference Semifinals | Houston Rockets | Los Angeles Clippers | | 2016 Western Conference Finals}} | Golden State Warriors}} | Oklahoma City Thunder}} | Went on to lose in the NBA Finals after having a 3-1 series lead (see below). | | 2016 NBA Finals | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | Only time in the NBA Finals; second of four straight years in which these two teams met in the NBA Finals, with the Warriors beating the Cavaliers in 2015, 2017, and 2018 |
National Hockey League NHL teams have overcome 3–1 deficits 28 times (including 3–0 deficits 4 times), only one of which occurred in the Stanley Cup Finals. | Year and series | Winner that overcame deficit | Loser that blew lead | Notes |
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| 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 this playoff year. | | 1987 Division Semifinals | New York Islanders | Washington Capitals | | 1987 Division Finals | Detroit Red Wings | Toronto Maple Leafs | Overcame 2–0 deficit | | 1988 Division Semifinals | Washington Capitals | Philadelphia Flyers | | 1989 Division Semifinals | Los Angeles Kings | Edmonton Oilers | | 1990 Division Semifinals | Edmonton Oilers | Winnipeg Jets | Went on to win the Stanley Cup Finals | | 1991 Division Semifinals | St. Louis Blues | Detroit Red Wings | | 1992 Division Semifinals | Pittsburgh Penguins | Washington Capitals | Overcame 2–0 deficit, and eventually win the Stanley Cup Finals | | 1992 Division Semifinals | Detroit Red Wings | Minnesota North Stars}} | Overcame 2–0 deficit | | 1992 Division Semifinals | Vancouver Canucks | Winnipeg Jets | | 1994 Conference Quarterfinals | Vancouver Canucks | Calgary Flames | | 1995 Conference Quarterfinals | Pittsburgh Penguins | Washington Capitals | | 1998 Conference Quarterfinals | Edmonton Oilers | Colorado Avalanche | | 1999 Conference Quarterfinals | St. Louis Blues | Phoenix Coyotes | | 2000 Conference Finals | New Jersey Devils | Philadelphia Flyers | Went on to win the Stanley Cup Finals | | 2003 Conference Quarterfinals | Minnesota Wild | Colorado Avalanche | Went on to overcome 3–1 deficit in the Conference Semifinals | | 2003 Conference Quarterfinals | Vancouver Canucks | St. Louis Blues | | 2003 Conference Semifinals | Minnesota Wild | Vancouver Canucks | Also overcame 3–1 deficit in the Conference Quarterfinals | | 2004 Conference Quarterfinals | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Overcame 2–0 deficit | | 2009 Conference Quarterfinals | Washington Capitals | New York Rangers | Overcame 2–0 deficit | | 2010 Conference Quarterfinals | Montreal Canadiens | Washington Capitals | | 2010 Conference Semifinals | Philadelphia Flyers | Boston Bruins | Overcame 3–0 deficit | | 2011 Conference Quarterfinals | Tampa Bay Lightning | Pittsburgh Penguins | | 2013 Conference Semifinals | Chicago Blackhawks | Detroit Red Wings | Won the Stanley Cup Finals | | 2014 First Round | Los Angeles Kings | San Jose Sharks | Overcame 3–0 deficit; went on to win the Stanley Cup Finals | | 2014 Second Round | New York Rangers | Pittsburgh Penguins | | 2015 Second Round | New York Rangers | Washington Capitals |
External links - History of 3-1 World Series comebacks
- [https://www.si.com/nba/photos/2015/05/18/nba-playoff-3-1-comebacks NBA Playoff 3-1 Comebacks] – SI.com
- [https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/playoff-comebacks.cgi NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Comebacks] – Hockey-Reference.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of teams to overcome 3-1 series deficits}} 4 : Major League Baseball playoffs and champions|National Basketball Association playoffs|Stanley Cup playoffs|Sports accomplishments |