Coming back from 3-1 hole in bubble is unique task

When all four secondround series in the NHL playoffs tilted 3-1 through four games, players and coaches didn’t have to look far for examples of teams that have come back from that deficit — or let that lead slip away.

Boston goaltender Jaroslav Halak backstopped Montreal to a seven-game victory against Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington in 2010. Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault was behind the bench for two of them, with Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen on the other side in 2014 and 2015 and the second against now-New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz. Peter DeBoer led the San Jose Sharks back from down 3-1 a year ago against the Vegas Golden Knights team he’s now coaching.

“Everyone’s played in these types of games throughout their life,” said Chris Tanev of the Vancouver Canucks, who in Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson have players who were part of a 3-0 series comeback. “Maybe not in the NHL for everyone, but guys have played at high levels their whole life and they’ve faced elimination before.”

Just not while competing for the Stanley Cup in a quarantined bubble. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy predicted three weeks ago that series would end quicker because of the psychological element of players being isolated from their families and their lives back home.

It is a variable unlike anything before in hockey history that makes the climb back from being down 3-1 even steeper.

VEGAS TAKES 3-1 LEAD OVER VANCOUVER >> Max Pacioretty scored twice and added an assist, and the Golden Knights rallied for three goals in the third period to beat the Canucks 5-3 late Sunday night.

The Golden Knights took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series. With a win in Game 5 today in Edmonton, Alberta, Vegas can eliminate Vancouver, the last Canadian team from the postseason.