Better Comeback: Devils or Bosox?

Should the Red Sox hang on it will likely be called the greatest comback in sports history? But is it better than the Devils 1-3 down,series win against the '00 Flyers?
* NJ had to win final 3[2 road] in a highly physical conference final after winning 2 previous series.
* While it could be argued NJ didn't face a great goaltender,Boston didn't face superior pitching.
* Yes Schilling pitched injured. How many Devils were prob. hurting?
* Mental pressure combined with fatigue is a deadly combination NJ had to fight through. Bosox didn't look tired or bumbed out, for that matter.
* Robbie had to go balistic in a locker room rant to get NJ prepared for game 5. I doubt whether Boston management even had to say anything,they just played.
* Both victories would be [bosox?] exceptional. But I think NJ's was superior. Why it hasn't happened in Bb before, I don't know. No team down 0-3 has even forsed a 7th game. I guess it say's something about character in baseball.

Red Sox.

Sox

Red Sox - and they are fighting the curse.

Not even close, Red Sox in a mile, maybe over everybody.

Sox- coming from a lifelong yankee fan.

I think it is more of a great collapse than it is a great comeback.

Sox- coming from a lifelong yankee fan.

I think it is more of a great collapse than it is a great comeback.

The comback is greater, that also not even close. This was one GUTSY baseball team, they deserve all the credit for hanging in tough in the last two games in Boston.

Not even close, Red Sox in a mile, maybe over everybody.

Agreed...Red Sox easy...one of the best comebacks I've ever seen....

No team in Major League Baseball history had ever comeback from 3-0 deficit before Wednesday night's Boston Red Sox Impossible Dream came true.

Twice NHL teams have comeback from 3-0 deficits, the 1974-75 New York Islanders and the 1941-42 Toronto Maple Leafs. The Islanders comeback was in the Second Round, so it wasn't as dramatic as a Conference/League Championship.

The 1941-42 Toronto Maple Leafs cameback from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals, which is seeminly a better feat than the Red Sox doing it in the American League Championship Series (which is akin to the NHL's Conference Finals,) except that the Detroit Red Wings club that took the 3-0 series lead was 19-25-4 during the regular season, good for fifth in the seven team NHL. Toronto finshed 2nd with a 27-18-3 record. They played the first place New York Rangers (29-17-2) in the 1st Round because the NHL had a stupid playoff system back then* and beat the Blueshirts 4-2. Toronto still accomplished a great thing, but they did do it against a team that lost more than half their contests in the regular season.

The Red Sox had to do it against the team that finished 3-games ahead of them for the best record in the American League. They also fell down 3 games to none by being beaten 19-8.

Somewhere right now, Jay Pandolfo is a very happy man.

The New Jersey Devils' comeback might rank just below the two NHL comebacks. I have strong personal feelings for it, but it was incredible to win the final three after losing three straight to Philadelphia, who finished two points ahead of the Devils in the standings. Game 7 is one for the ages, with Elias giving the Devils an early 1-0 followed by Scott Stevens devestating hit on Eric Lindros just over two minutes later. Rick Tocchet tie it up in the 2nd Period, and Patrik Elias won it with 2:32 left in regulation to give the Devils the series.

* The top two teams played a best of 7 series while the third seed played the fourth seed in a best of 3 series and the fifth seed played the sixth seed in a best of 3 series. The winners of the best of 3's would play each other in another best of 3 series. The winner of that series took on the the winner of the best of 7.

A lot of people have been picking the Sox's, and seeing as how I only watch baseball in the leadup to and playoffs I may be out of my league, however I would have to say that a major NHL comeback, (regardless of team or year) is better than a MLB baseball comeback, simply because the NHL is a team game. To come back and win four in a row in the NHL you have to be better than the basically the whole team, not just the pitcher. I don't think the MLB can't deliver on that. If you take out the goalie in the NHL it could dramatically change the series, however taking out any regular position does not dramatically change the game for the MLB, that, in my opinoin, makes the NHL a tougher comeback league than the MLB.

And for those who would say that the NHL has had more comebacks, I counter with the fact that the NHL has had 7 game series forever and for every matchup, whereas the MLB has only changed that in recent years.

Sox, statistically are at least twice as good as the Devils' comeback on sheer probability. Plus 3-1 comebacks have been done before, Minnesota/Vancouver did it a couple years ago in the playoffs as well.

A lot of people have been picking the Sox's, and seeing as how I only watch baseball in the leadup to and playoffs I may be out of my league, however I would have to say that a major NHL comeback, (regardless of team or year) is better than a MLB baseball comeback, simply because the NHL is a team game. To come back and win four in a row in the NHL you have to be better than the basically the whole team, not just the pitcher. I don't think the MLB can't deliver on that. If you take out the goalie in the NHL it could dramatically change the series, however taking out any regular position does not dramatically change the game for the MLB, that, in my opinoin, makes the NHL a tougher comeback league than the MLB.Pitching is to baseball what goaltending is to hockey. The only difference is a team needs ten or eleven pitcher because of the great strain throwing puts on the pitchers arm. But I certainly feel that the two positions have great similarities to their sports despite the vast differences in what the do physically in games.

And for those who would say that the NHL has had more comebacks, I counter with the fact that the NHL has had 7 game series forever and for every matchup, whereas the MLB has only changed that in recent years.MLB has had atleast best-of-seven in the World Series since 1903. Since 1985, the ALCS and NLCS have also been best-of-seven. Baseball has had, including both LCS this year, 137 series of best-of-seven or more series. The NHL has 485 best-of-sevens series. Clearly 2 in 485 is much higher ratio (1:242.5) to 1 in 137. However, the NHL has had a lot of matchups between powerful teams and sub-.500 teams, espcecially since the 1st Round was expanded to best-of-seven for the 1986-87 playoffs. When a league allows 16 of 21 teams into the playoffs, as the NHL did for span of time, it there's not always going to be quality teams competing. I don't really have the time to delve into all the various formats that the NHL has had since its founding in 1917, but some early versions included total goals series.

I think it is more of a great collapse than it is a great comeback.

This is the exact problem that Canadian hockey faced during the mid to late nineties. They placed 100% of the blame on themselves when it was the opposition just being better than them.

SOX.... no doubt.

Sox, statistically are at least twice as good as the Devils' comeback on sheer probability. Plus 3-1 comebacks have been done before, Minnesota/Vancouver did it a couple years ago in the playoffs as well.

The Canadiens did it against the Bruins this year, with Vancouver over St Louis, Minnesota over Colorado, and Minnesota over Vancouver happening last year... the 3-1 comeback may have once been a rarity, but it's happened four times in the past two Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Red Sox - and they are fighting the curse.


Plus, the Devils had a win. It's not like teams haven't come back from 3-1 defecits before (Habs in 04, Wild TWICE in 03 both had to win Game 5 and 7 on the road). There are 2 NHL teams that have come back down 3-0. To be considered the 'greatest' comeback in hockey history, you have go down 3-0 before it is even considered.

Plus, the baseball uses a 2-3-2 format, so the Red Sox had to win Games 6 and 7 in Yankee Stadium. It's the first time since 1926 the Yankees lost games 6 and 7 at home.

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Plus, the Devils had a win. It's not like teams haven't come back from 3-1 defecits before (Habs in 04, Wild TWICE in 03 both had to win Game 5 and 7 on the road). There are 2 NHL teams that have come back down 3-0. To be considered the 'greatest' comeback in hockey history, you have go down 3-0 before it is even considered.

Plus, the baseball uses a 2-3-2 format, so the Red Sox had to win Games 6 and 7 in Yankee Stadium. It's the first time since 1926 the Yankees lost games 6 and 7 at home.

Yeah. In all categories the Sox win was more impressive... though the Larry Robinson tirade was very impressive.

Having a good day, Gee Wally? ;)

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Having a good day, Gee Wally? ;)

what's left of it...

I just got up !

my old heart can't take much more of this !!!

:D

what's left of it...

I just got up !

my old heart can't take much more of this !!!

:D

Well, you still got one series left. :)

Red Sox... it's not even close.

The comback is greater, that also not even close. This was one GUTSY baseball team, they deserve all the credit for hanging in tough in the last two games in Boston.

Mariano Rivera was 3 outs away from closing out the series in game 4.

I believe it was more of a collapse because the yankees were at such a high point after game 3. Their bats just died after scoring the 19 runs, therefore signifying a major collapse. I do however, give credit to the sox who pounced on the opportunity to strike the beleagured yanks and take home the pennant.

The Redsox for sure! That Redsox/Yankees series is going to go down as the biggest comeback in sports history and also the worst collapse in sports history... It was some series... Glad to see the the Theeeeeeeee Yankees lose! :lol:

Definately the Red Sox. As much of a hockey fan that I am and as much as I dislike baseball, there is no comparison in what the biggest comeback of sporting history currently is.

The Red Sox were facing:
-The ghost of Babe Ruth
-26 straight series losses to the Yankees
-no team in MLB history ever forcing even a game 7 after being down 3-0
-playing at Yankee stadium for games 6 & 7
-Curt Schilling playing on an injured foot
-Losing game 3 with a score of 19-8
-Yankees finishing ahead of them in the standings


I mean, everything was against them and they pulled in one win at a time (in extra innings for the first two) to finally pull down the Yankees.

To me, the equivalent in hockey would be Montreal facing Toronto in the Stanley Cup finals and Montreal being ahead 3 games to none and seeing the Leafs win 4 straight to end their 50 year curse. (of course, this is assuming Montreal would be a top contending team reminiscent of their early glory days but I think you guys get the picture).

The band of "idiots" seem like a very loose group. Lowe was crit. by management for not being in game condidtion after the 1st rd.{drinking?} .
I guess I can't see this hapening in the NHL where intensity is several notches above what Bb has to deal with. Can you imagine Lou having to handle the freewheeling Bosox? In Hockey it's also about physical survival,and doing your job within a team game. Bb is more individualized. Two great comebacks. Devils did it with mindblowing intensity and consentration . Bosox - free spirted ,clutch individualism.

Mariano Rivera was 3 outs away from closing out the series in game 4.

I believe it was more of a collapse because the yankees were at such a high point after game 3. Their bats just died after scoring the 19 runs, therefore signifying a major collapse. I do however, give credit to the sox who pounced on the opportunity to strike the beleagured yanks and take home the pennant.

Dude, they are only the third team to win a series after being three games down and the FIRST outside of hockey agaisnt a powerhouse of a lineup of the Yanks winning two of the games in the house where their curse has been stored since 1918, and you grudgingly will give the Red Sox credit??

Ahhh man, are you a Yankee fan? You are aren't you? :D

The band of "idiots" seem like a very loose group. Lowe was crit. by management for not being in game condidtion after the 1st rd.{drinking?} .
I guess I can't see this hapening in the NHL where intensity is several notches above what Bb has to deal with. Can you imagine Lou having to handle the freewheeling Bosox? In Hockey it's also about physical survival,and doing your job within a team game. Bb is more individualized. Two great comebacks. Devils did it with mindblowing intensity and consentration . Bosox - free spirted ,clutch individualism.I agree with you for the most part. I always liked the Yankees clean-cut rules. It gives a military seriousness to their business. But I heard Harold Reynolds and others on Baseball Tonight say that the Red Sox gain a togetherness with their facial hair and unusual hairstyles. Also, Peter Gammons called the Yankees a collection of very good players instead of a very good team, much like the New York Rangers of recent years.

Ahhh man, are you a Yankee fan? You are aren't you? :D

Since August 29 1988 :yo:

I have never seen a comeback even remotely close to the comeback of the Red Sox pulled off this week. When you consider all of the issues involved (well described by others), the devils comeback (while great) isn't even close in my opinion.

Since August 29 1988 :yo:

Then I'll quote Teddy KGB when he puts it so beautifully:

"It hurts doesn't it? Your hopes dashed, your dreams down the toilet. And your fate is sitting right besides you."


:lol


Sorry my man, I've been dying to use that one!

On Lowe's "condition" : I heard the BoSox President asked about it and while he didn't confirm Lowe was out drinking he didn't deny the questioner's premise that Derek was out all night, and management wasn't happy about it.

Lowe was asked if he's concerned that management may believe his extracurricular activities have hurt his performance.

"Of course you wonder," he said. "But nobody [from management] has said anything to me."

Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said his staff was aware of the rumors, but said he didn't feel it was necessary -- or appropriate -- to question his pitcher.

"It's the job of the manager or the general manager to do that," said Lucchino.


This is a wild,very loose group{ helped them,they could give a __about curses} which is likely to be broken up so they had better get it done. Pedro,Lowe,Varitek,Cabrera, UFA's and it's poss. that none will be back. Manny is in his own world, and could conceivably be waived [again] though I doubt it this time. But they'd love to dump his 20mil.

Then I'll quote Teddy KGB when he puts it so beautifully:

"It hurts doesn't it? Your hopes dashed, your dreams down the toilet. And your fate is sitting right besides you."


:lol


Sorry my man, I've been dying to use that one!

Don't be sorry... I blame mariano :D

Don't be sorry... I blame mariano :DJust Mariano? That's like blaming Scott Gomez for the Devils' loss to the Avs a couple years back. There is plenty of blame to throw around on that team. I'd start with Brown. I respect his passion, but breaking his wrist the way he did when he did it is a complete joke. The only thing worse than that debacle was his actual pitching. I'd liken it to the umpire of my little brother's "pamper league" baseball team. The ump's biggest job is placing the ball on the Tee for the little guys. Kevin Brown couldn't have given the Sox hitters better balls to hit if he placed them on the Tee. He was worthless . . . except to Sox fans.

I have never seen a comeback even remotely close to the comeback of the Red Sox pulled off this week. When you consider all of the issues involved (well described by others), the devils comeback (while great) isn't even close in my opinion.
Saw the Islanders comeback in 1975 which was amazing by any standard and lasted almost 30 years. There was no Pens-Islander rivalry in that era and nothing like this kind of media pressure like Boston-Yankee had on them and what a mismatch it looked like after the third game. Islanders won games five and won the series 1-0 on the road in game seven. Chico Resch was in goal.

Find it incredible the Islanders in the very next series went down 3-0 and came back to force a seventh game again.