Last week the Montreal Alouettes came back in dramatic fashion to win Canada’s Super Bowl, the Grey Cup, in the dying seconds of the game.
Incredible comebacks are the best thing about sports. It’s why I never leave a game early to beat traffic or turn the channel during a blowout. You just simply never know, and you can’t say you saw it if you cut out early.
Anyway, this got me thinking about the greatest comebacks in hockey history. There are tons of iconic comeback moments in hockey, but these ones are just a little more awesome than the rest.
5. RUSSIA DEFEATS CANADA AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
Re-live the best of the madness that was the 2011 World Juniors gold medal game!
As a Canadian, this one was an absolute heartbreaker, but it was a heck of a comeback.
In 2011, Canada found themselves in their 10th straight World Junior gold medal game against their bitter rival, Russia. Canada had not lost in regulation all tournament long, and with a 3–0 lead heading into the third period of the championship game, it looked like Brayden Schenn and the Canadians were well on their way to their country’s 16th World Junior gold medal.
But, the Russians had other ideas. Scoring five unanswered goals in the third period, Artemi Panarin and company marched to a 5–3 victory, claiming World Junior gold for the 15th time (including Soviet Union wins).
Go-to custom hockey jersey: Russia white, with “Panarin” #27
4. CANADA DEFEATS RUSSIA AT THE 1972 SUMMIT SERIES
Canada and Russia have a long history of epic international battles, and the pendulum has swung in both teams favour over the years. But, it all started back in ol’ 72.
It was the height of the Cold War and tensions were high. Canada and Russia were unfamiliar opponents, not sure what the other was capable of. We all found out pretty quickly as Canada got their jocks handed to them in the opening game of the series, 7–3. Canada finished the first half of the eight game series 1-2-1, and headed into enemy territory with the second half of the series to be played in Moscow.
After dropping the first contest in Russia, Canada clawed their way back with three wins in a row, including the now iconic last minute victory in game eight, when Paul Henderson frantically whacked a rebound past future Hall of Famer, Vladislav Tretiak.
Some (mostly Canadian) hockey fans call this the greatest comeback of all-time, and the Henderson goal the greatest goal of all-time. There’s no doubt that the stakes were high, but it was ultimately a friendly tournament between two countries over nothing but pride. For that reason, I rank it fourth on my list. They had some pretty sweet hockey sweaters in this one, though.
Go-to custom hockey jersey: Canada white, with “Canada” #19
This Global News clip touches on just how pivotal this series was, not just for the history of hockey, but for Canadian history and pride as well.
The Miracle on Manchester, one of the biggest games in LA Kings history, retold by the people who witnessed it.
3. THE KINGS DEFEAT THE OILERS: THE MIRACLE ON MANCHESTER
Here’s a single-game comeback for the ages.
In 1982, the Edmonton Oilers were coming into their own as the greatest hockey team of the 1980s, with future Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, and Grant Fuhr. The deck was heavily stacked against the LA Kings, but they managed to bring the best of five series back to Los Angeles with a 1–1 split.
In the first game back in Los Angeles, the Kings fell behind 5–0 after two periods. But, Marcel Dionne and company stood strong, scoring five unanswered goals in the third period—including the tying goal with just five seconds left in regulation—forcing overtime.
In the extra frame Daryl Evans slipped the puck past Grant Fuhr to take game 3 and eventually the series, likely robbing the Oilers of their first Stanley Cup.
This is the greatest single-game comeback in hockey history.
Go-to custom hockey jersey: Kings gold, with “Evans” #15
2. Mario Lemieux defeats cancer
While some comebacks happen within a single game and others happen over a series, some comebacks happen over a life-defining year. That was the case with Le Magnifique.
In January of 1993, at age 27, Lemieux revealed to the hockey world that he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
While he stepped away from hockey to undergo treatment, Pat LaFontaine overtook Lemieux in the scoring race, gaining a 12 point lead. But, Super Mario beat cancer and returned to the ice leading the Penguins on a record 17-game winning streak.
Mario eventually recaptured the scoring race lead from LaFontaine, winning the Hart and Art Ross trophies.
Lemieux missed the entire 1994–95 season because of the toll that radiation treatment had taken on him. But, he picked up where he left off in the 95-96 season, once again capturing the scoring title and league MVP honours like he’d never even heard of cancer.
Mario’s first game back after beating cancer. Naturally, the Pittsburgh great would score 69 goals and 91 assists (160 points) in 60 games after his return.
Colton Parayko and Laila Anderson pose with the Stanley Cup.
1. the '19 blues: the greatest comeback season of all time
When the calendar flipped to 2019, the St. Louis Blues found themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings with a record of 15-18-4 — dead last.
The Blues started terribly, and in November they fired head coach Mike Yeo, elevating Craig Berube to the head coach position.
The Blues managed to grind out a .500 record following Berube’s ascension, but still found themselves in the league’s basement come All-Star weekend.
But, like all great comebacks, there were a couple of defining moments that helped the Blues come together. While watching NFL playoffs at a pub in Philadelphia, the Blues players had a bonding moment singing and dancing while listening to Laura Branigan’s song “Gloria” on repeat.
They decided then and there that “Gloria” should be their team’s victory song.
The very next night, rookie goalie Jordan Binnington earned his first NHL win, and “Gloria” blasted in the Blues’ dressing room. That kicked off an 11-game winning streak, helping the Blues finish third in the Central Division, clinching a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, in St. Louis, a young Blues fan by the name of Laila Anderson, struggled with a life-threatening autoimmune disorder. Laila had met Blues defenceman, Colton Parayko, at a Halloween function held at the St. Louis Children’s hospital, and the two became close friends. It was a moment that would lift the two in ways they could never know.
The Blues finished the 2018-2019 regular season in dominant fashion and continued their strong play into the playoffs, eventually defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games to capture the Stanley Cup. And Laila Anderson, whose autoimmune struggles are now a thing of the past, got to see it all, watching game seven live in Boston, and celebrating with the Blues on the ice after their victory.
This, folks, is the greatest comeback in hockey history. The Blues went from worst to first in the most dramatic and heart-warming fashion imaginable. It’s the stuff Hollywood films are made of. I still can’t believe that Craig Berube didn’t win Coach of the Year honours.
Go-to custom hockey jersey: Blues white, with “Parayko” #55
The dying seconds of of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, in which the St. Louis Blues would do the unthinkable- winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
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Canada and Russia face off to prove which country deserves the title of “Hockey Capital of the World”
