History Shows Flyers Destined To Win Series

In 1942, the Toronto Maple Leafs became the first team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series, doing it against the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals.

In 1975, 33 years later, the New York Islanders became the second and most recent team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 series deficit, doing it against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the quarterfinals.

Now, 33 years later, the Philadelphia Flyers have done 25% of this feat.  They have won one game after being down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Does history say that the Flyers should be winning this series in seven games?

History says yes.

Logic says no.

However, there is the slight possibility of this feat being accomplished.  Since the beginning of the playoffs, the Flyers have been underdogs.  They were underdogs to the Washington Capitals, who were picked to win the series in six games.

The Flyers won in seven.

In the semifinals, the Montreal Canadiens were picked to win in five games over the mediocre Flyers.

The Flyers won in five.

Now, they are being expected to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games.  Could they possibly pull this off again?

They did play much better in game four of this series, yet the Pens also played extremely poorly.  But in this league, anything can happen.  The Flyers had a ten game losing streak late in the season, and a four game losing streak could happen to any team.  The Flyers are known for their record 35-game unbeaten streak in the eighties.

Four games is much less than 35. 

It is extremely possible.

But not likely.