Can’t win down 0-3? Regehr’s been there
The former Flames defenceman was a King when Los Angeles pulled off comeback feat
The Calgary Flames will now attempt to do something only four teams in NHL history have done: come back from a 0-3 series deficit.
While searching for any signs of hope that they can beat the Anaheim Ducks, they needn’t look much further than northwest Calgary for living proof it can happen.
Robyn Regehr has been there, done that.
The recently retired defenceman was part of the last team to pull off the feat, when his 2014 Los Angeles Kings shook off a 3-0 start against the San Jose Sharks to not only win their first-round series, but eventually claim their second Stanley Cup in a threeyear span.
“The trend was our friend,” Regehr said, sharing a motto of sorts that helped him and Darryl Sutter’s bunch focus on winning four straight.
“We got our butts kicked pretty good in San Jose and then we played better in the third game even though we gave up a late lead and lost in overtime. We were getting better, and once we were able to win Game 4, we just created more and more momentum from there.
“When we won Game 5 and then Game 6, the momentum was all on our side. By then, they had to play under a large amount of pressure, and in my opinion that helped a lot.”
Regehr said even after his club’s Game 3 overtime loss, there was still optimism because many of the players on that team won the Cup two years earlier.
But Regehr said Calgary’s late collapse on Monday — the Flames squandered a dominating start in Game 3 that saw a 4-1 lead toppled in overtime — means this matchup is a different story.
“With this series, it’s not looking good with the trend,” said Regehr, 36, who played 11 seasons in Calgary and is the franchise leader in games played by a defenceman.
“When you’re leading 4-1 and eventually lose in overtime, that’s not a good trend. That would be a huge concern. I’m not saying they can’t do it, but the bigger picture is they’re not trending the right way.”
Regehr’s veteran-laden Kings club was able to count on many things the Flames don’t have, like Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Quick as well as the leadership of Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.
“Four teams have come back from down three and Carter and Richards were on two of them,” Regehr said, referencing the duo’s experience with the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers.
“In a way it would be easier for the Flames if they had those two guys on their team, because they’ve been involved in half the comebacks.”
Regehr said another advantage the Kings had was in the players’ ability to leave the rink and escape talk about the series. The Flames don’t have that luxury.
“It was a nice little reprieve, where these players here in Calgary, they live and breathe it every day,” said Regehr, who works in the oilpatch now and will attend Game 4 on Wednesday.
“Whether they go to a restaurant, a grocery store, a movie or whatever it is, people want to talk to them about hockey. Everyone loves hockey and the playoffs.”