Kings Erase Five Goal Deficit on Manchester

# The Miracle on Manchester: March 17, 1982

On St. Patrick's Day 1982, the Los Angeles Kings pulled off what many consider the greatest comeback in NHL playoff history – a stunning rally that became immortalized as "The Miracle on Manchester."

The setting was the Los Angeles Forum on Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood, California. The Kings were facing the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their best-of-five first-round playoff series. Edmonton, led by a young Wayne Gretzky who had just shattered scoring records with 92 goals and 212 points during the regular season, seemed unstoppable. The Oilers also boasted future Hall of Famers Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, and Grant Fuhr.

The series was tied 1-1, and Game 3 started disastrously for Los Angeles. The Oilers dominated, racing to a commanding 5-0 lead after two periods. Gretzky had scored twice, and Edmonton looked poised to take control of the series. Kings fans were heading for the exits, and those who remained seemed resigned to defeat. The game appeared to be nothing more than a formality at that point.

But something magical happened in that third period.

At 2:46, Doug Smith scored to make it 5-1. Most fans barely reacted – it seemed like a meaningless consolation goal. But then Jay Wells scored at 5:22. Suddenly it was 5-2, and a faint glimmer of hope emerged. Mark Hardy made it 5-3 at 10:49, and now the Forum faithful were standing and roaring. The impossible was becoming possible.

Steve Bozek cut the lead to 5-4 at 15:35, and the building was absolutely shaking. The Kings had scored four goals in less than thirteen minutes, and the momentum had completely shifted. The Oilers, shell-shocked, couldn't regain their composure. With just five seconds remaining in regulation, Charlie Simmer tied the game 5-5, sending the Forum into absolute pandemonium.

In overtime, with the crowd at a fever pitch and the Oilers reeling, Kings forward Daryl Evans scored at 2:35 to complete the most improbable comeback in playoff history. The Kings had scored five unanswered goals in the third period and overtime, erasing a five-goal deficit to win 6-5.

The Forum ice was showered with hats, programs, and debris as fans celebrated wildly. The Miracle on Manchester became instant legend, a moment when everything that makes sports compelling – drama, perseverance, and the refusal to quit – combined perfectly.

The comeback energized the Kings, who went on to win the series in five games, eliminating the heavily favored Oilers. Though Los Angeles eventually fell to the Vancouver Canucks in the next round, that St. Patrick's Day victory remained the defining moment of their season and one of the most cherished memories in franchise history.

For Edmonton, the loss was a crushing learning experience for a young team that would go on to dominate the NHL, winning five Stanley Cups in seven years. But they would never forget the night when a five-goal lead evaporated in twenty minutes.

The Miracle on Manchester stands as a testament to why sports captivate us – because no matter how insurmountable the odds appear, anything can happen.

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