Road rage

Flyers become 13th NHL team to shake off 0-2 home hole

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Posted: Wednesday May 10, 2000 02:14 AM

The goaltending of Brian Boucher was a big reason the Flyers were able to erase the 2-0 deficit. Al Bello/Allsport

By Ryan Hunt, CNNSI.com

Before the playoffs started, the Pittsburgh Penguins hadn't won in Philadelphia in six years, a span of 14 games. That made it all the more improbable that the seventh-seeded Penguins stole two games in Philly against the top-seeded Flyers.

The Penguins never won again.

After four straight victories, the Flyers became only the 13th team in NHL history to win a series despite losing the first two games at home.

The Flyers had previously escaped the 0-2 hole only once in franchise history. Coincidentally, the lost the first two at home in that series, as well -- to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1977. They also won four straight to win the series in six.

Who Needs Home Ice? Teams that rallied from 0-2 deficit despite losing first two at home Year  Result  Gms  2000  Flyers d. Penguins  4-2   1999  Avalanche d. Red Wings  4-2   1996  Penguins d. Capitals  4-2   1996  Rangers d. Canadiens  4-2  1995  Blackhawks d. Maple Leafs  4-3   1994  Devils d. Bruins  4-2  1992  Red Wings d. North Stars  4-3  1987  Red Wings d. Maple Leafs  4-3  1977  Flyers d. Maple Leafs  4-2  1966*  Canadiens d. Red Wings  4-2   1963  Red Wings d. Blackhawks  4-2  1945  Red Wings d. Bruins  4-3  1942*  Maple Leafs d. Red Wings  4-3#  * Stanley Cup final # Trailed 3-0

In fact, of the 13 teams to comeback, eight took the series in six games. And one more, the 1942 Maple Leafs, rallied to win four straight after trailing 3-0. It is one of only two times a team has rebounded from a 3-0 hole.

In all, only 31 teams now have rallied from 0-2 deficits since the league instituted the best-of-seven format in 1939. Yet, the road rally has been more of a recent phenomenon.

In the first 53 years of the seven-game series, the feat only happened six times. In the past eight, it's happened seven. Last year, the Colorado Avalanche beat the Detroit Red Wings in six games after losing the first two at home.

Pittsburgh, which erased an 0-2 home hole against Washington in 1996, did not win a home game in a series that last at least six games for the first time in franchise history.

It marked the third time the Penguins were eliminated by Philadelphia.

 

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