The Oilers have come back to tie a playoff series at 3 after being down 3-0 for the 10th time in NHL history. The Blackhawks were seventh, doing it in 2011. The momentum didn't quite do the trick for Chicago in a terrific effort, however.

Thirteen years ago, the then defending champion Chicago Blackhawks came one bounce away from accomplishing what the Edmonton Oilers are trying to pull off in Florida against the Panthers on Monday night in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

The bounce just didn't Chicago's way against the Vancouver Canucks.

Be warned Connor McDavid & Co. Momentum alone doesn't finish the job when trying to win an NHL playoff series after falling behind 3-0 and then tying it at 3 games apiece. 

Just ask the Blackhawks and their former captain, Jonathan Toews.

After trailing the hated Vancouver Canucks 3 games to none in an opening playoff round in 2011, the Blackhawks rallied to tie the series at 3-all. Toews scored late in Game 7 to force overtime, but then Chicago lost the game 2-1.

Some History

The Blackhawks won the Cup in 2010, defeating Philadelphia in the finals 4 games to 2 two to end a 49-year drought. En route to the championship, Chicago eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs for a second straight year. 

Dave Bolland, a quirky Blackhawks two-way center from Mimico, Ontario, needled Henrik and Daniel Sedin as the "Sedin Sisters" on a radio show and suggested the two eventual Hall of Famers slept in bunk beds.

Chicago wasn't as cocky or dominant in 2010-11, finishing at 44-29-9 with 97 and in eight place — and the last playoff spot — in the Western Conference. Then-general manager Stan Bowman had gutted the team's roster in a salary-cap purge and the Hawks qualified for the playoffs on the last day of the season.

So Chicago met the top team in the West in the opening round. That meant a matchup with the Canucks, who had won the President's Trophy with a 54-19-9 mark and 117 points.

Roberto Luongo, The Drama Queen Between The Pipes

With Roberto Luongo in nets, the Canucks topped the Blackhawks 2-0 and 4-3 in the opening games in Vancouver. The Canucks took Game 3 at the United Center, 3-2 as Mikael Samuelsson scored the tie-breaking goal in the third period.

Then Toews spoke up a day later.

“They’re a beatable team,” Toews said. "They have got weaknesses just like any other team. I think it is up to us to expose them and we haven’t done a good enough job of that. It’s pretty simple.”

The Blackhawks responded and stayed alive with a penalty-filled 7-2 win in Game 4 in Chicago, chasing Luongo in the third period.

The Hawks ripped the Canucks 5-0 in Game 5 in Vancouver.  In this one, Luongo gave up four goals on the first eight shots and again was relieved by Corey Schneider. Duncan Keith had two goals and two assists. Marian Hossa scored twice and posted an assist.

Luongo, a Vezina Trophy finalist that season and solid in three games of the series, suddenly had allowed 10 goals on the last 40 shots he faced.

Bizarre Game 6

The Blackhawks tied the series at 3 in with a 4-3 OT win in Chicago in Game 6. 

With Luongo's confidence in question, Schneider started that one. But the backup goalie injured his right knee at 2:31 of the third as Michael Frolik scored on a penalty shot to tie the game at 3. Schneider couldn't get back up on his skates and had to be helped to the bench. Luongo replaced him.

Rookie Ben Smith knocked a rebound past Luongo at 15:30 of overtime to win it for Chicago and tie the series at 3.

More Drama In Game 7

Luongo started and was back in form in Game 7 in Vancouver. He and the Canucks were closing in on a 1-0 shutout as time ticked down in the third period.  

Speedy Alexandre Burrows had scored the only goal, just 2:43 into the first period. Burrows was stopped by rookie goalie Corey Crawford on a penalty shot 21 seconds into the third.

But Toews scored a short-handed goal with 1:56 left to tie the game at 1. He pushed in a rebound despite being down on the ice.

Burrows, served a holding penalty in overtime and watched as Luongo made a spectacular save on Patrick Sharp. 

Then Burrows settled it. He batted down a Chris Campoli clearing attempt and sent a fluttering slapshot from the high slot past Crawford at 5:22 of the extra period to win it.

The Blackhawks went home. The Canucks advanced to the Stanley Cup Final where they fell to Boston 4-3.