Kings Erase Five Goal Deficit Beat Oilers Overtime

# The Miracle on Manchester: February 25, 1982

On February 25, 1982, one of the most stunning comebacks in NHL playoff history unfolded at the Forum in Inglewood, California (located on Manchester Boulevard, hence the nickname). The Los Angeles Kings, down 5-0 to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers after two periods, stormed back to win 6-5 in overtime in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

The Edmonton Oilers of the early 1980s were an offensive juggernaut, featuring a young Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, and Paul Coffey. They had dominated the regular season and entered the playoffs as heavy favorites. The Kings, meanwhile, were significant underdogs who had barely squeaked into the postseason.

Through two periods at the Forum, everything went according to script. The Oilers peppered Kings goaltender Mario Lessard with shots, building what seemed like an insurmountable 5-0 lead. Oilers fans were already planning their champagne celebration. The game appeared to be a mere formality, with many of the 15,000+ fans heading for the exits.

But in the third period, something magical happened. Kings forward Jay Wells scored at 2:46 to make it 5-1, providing a glimmer of hope. Then Doug Smith scored at 5:22. When Charlie Simmer netted one at 8:27, suddenly it was 5-3, and the Forum faithful were back in their seats, roaring with disbelief and excitement.

Mark Hardy made it 5-4 at 11:12, and the impossible now seemed possible. The Oilers, shell-shocked and reeling, couldn't stop the bleeding. With just over five minutes remaining, Steve Bozek tied the game 5-5, sending the building into absolute pandemonium. The Kings had erased a five-goal deficit in one period!

In overtime, rookie Daryl Evans became the hero. At 2:35 of the extra period, Evans—who had been called up from the minors just weeks earlier—deflected a shot past Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr to complete the miraculous comeback.

The game became known as "The Miracle on Manchester," and it remains one of the greatest comebacks in professional sports history. The psychological impact was devastating for Edmonton. Despite being the superior team, the Oilers lost the series three games to two, their Cup dreams dashed by a team they had thoroughly dominated.

For the Kings franchise, it was a defining moment—a shining achievement in an organization that had struggled to find playoff success. The game demonstrated that no lead is ever truly safe and that perseverance can overcome even the longest odds.

The Miracle on Manchester is still replayed in Los Angeles sports lore, a testament to the unpredictability and drama that makes playoff hockey so compelling. It taught the young Oilers a harsh lesson about finishing games, though they would learn from this defeat and go on to win multiple Stanley Cups later in the decade.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI