Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
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I mean in all of the big sports. Not just hockey and not just the World Juniors. We all witnessed that train wreck that was the 2011 Canadian team in the third period. No need to argue that. So here's the thing, I have honestly tried to think of another choke job that was worse in a deciding game. This means, Super Bowls, World Series, NBA final, Stanley Cup final, other WJCs, Olympics. But only in a championship or deciding game. The Miracle on Manchester and the Monday Night Miracle were not deciding the Stanley Cup (and I'll even take the 2011 game over the Monday Night Miracle as a worse collapse). Here is what I have so far:
Canada had a 3-0 lead in the 3rd period only to lose to Russia 5-3. While solely looking at the championship game the only ones close are:
2002 WJC - Canada had a 2-0 and 3-1 lead in the game over Russia. In about 10 minutes the game is 4-3 Russia. Final is 5-4.
2004 WJC - Canada is up 3-1 going into the 3rd vs. USA. The Yanks scored a couple of goals and then the classic Fleury gaffe.
Despite everything, none of them compare to the other night.
NBA? None that I can think of.
Stanley Cup final? The worst I can think is Game 7 of the 1971 finals. Chicago is up 2-0 then the longshot at center ice from Lemaire cuts it in half. In the 3rd period Henri Richard scores twice and the Habs win the Cup. A bitter pill, but not worse than the 2011 WJC.
Super Bowl? I can't think of one that bad. Scott Norwood was just a wide field goal, not a collapse.
World Series? The best I can think of is in 1986 when the Red Sox are one strike away from winning the World Series against the Mets up two runs. Then a single, another single, another single and a run and then with Mookie Wilson at the plate and the Red Sox still up by a run Bob Stanley throws a wild pitch, not a strike that would have ended the game (again), and the tying run comes home. Then the Buckner incident. Red Sox lose.
Inernational hockey?
Canada/Russia in Game 8 in 1972. Not a great period by Russia, but it was 5-3 not 3-0 going into the 3rd period.
Canada/Russia 1981 Canada Cup. The Soviets had the lead but Canada was still in the game early in the 3rd period and then 5 goals and that was all she wrote.
So by what I can think of, only the 1986 World Series holds a candle, and probably surpasses what we saw the other night as the biggest collapse by a team in a championship game. Any others?
Canada had a 3-0 lead in the 3rd period only to lose to Russia 5-3. While solely looking at the championship game the only ones close are:
2002 WJC - Canada had a 2-0 and 3-1 lead in the game over Russia. In about 10 minutes the game is 4-3 Russia. Final is 5-4.
2004 WJC - Canada is up 3-1 going into the 3rd vs. USA. The Yanks scored a couple of goals and then the classic Fleury gaffe.
Despite everything, none of them compare to the other night.
NBA? None that I can think of.
Stanley Cup final? The worst I can think is Game 7 of the 1971 finals. Chicago is up 2-0 then the longshot at center ice from Lemaire cuts it in half. In the 3rd period Henri Richard scores twice and the Habs win the Cup. A bitter pill, but not worse than the 2011 WJC.
Super Bowl? I can't think of one that bad. Scott Norwood was just a wide field goal, not a collapse.
World Series? The best I can think of is in 1986 when the Red Sox are one strike away from winning the World Series against the Mets up two runs. Then a single, another single, another single and a run and then with Mookie Wilson at the plate and the Red Sox still up by a run Bob Stanley throws a wild pitch, not a strike that would have ended the game (again), and the tying run comes home. Then the Buckner incident. Red Sox lose.
Inernational hockey?
Canada/Russia in Game 8 in 1972. Not a great period by Russia, but it was 5-3 not 3-0 going into the 3rd period.
Canada/Russia 1981 Canada Cup. The Soviets had the lead but Canada was still in the game early in the 3rd period and then 5 goals and that was all she wrote.
So by what I can think of, only the 1986 World Series holds a candle, and probably surpasses what we saw the other night as the biggest collapse by a team in a championship game. Any others?