The Miracle on Manchester Kings Comeback Victory

# The Miracle on Manchester: February 15, 1982

On February 15, 1982, the Los Angeles Kings pulled off what many consider the greatest comeback in NHL playoff history – a stunning reversal that would forever be known as "The Miracle on Manchester."

The setting was the Forum in Inglewood, California, located on Manchester Boulevard (hence the nickname). It was Game 3 of the first-round playoff series between the Kings and the mighty Edmonton Oilers, who were heavily favored and boasted an up-and-coming superstar named Wayne Gretzky, along with an arsenal of offensive weapons.

Going into the third period, the Oilers were absolutely dominant, leading 5-0. The game seemed all but over. Many of the 16,005 fans in attendance had already begun heading for the exits, convinced their Kings were done for the night. The Oilers, meanwhile, were probably already thinking about Game 4.

But then something extraordinary happened.

At 2:46 of the third period, Jay Wells scored for Los Angeles. It seemed like a mere consolation goal at the time. But then Doug Smith scored at 5:22. Suddenly, it was 5-2, and a tiny spark of hope flickered in the Forum. Mark Hardy made it 5-3 at 10:58. The building began to buzz with an electric energy that hadn't been there moments before.

The Kings weren't done. At 13:10, Charlie Simmer scored on a power play, making it 5-4. The impossible was becoming possible. The crowd was now in a frenzy, hardly believing what they were witnessing.

With just 5:22 remaining in regulation, Steve Bozek tied the game 5-5, sending the Forum into absolute pandemonium. The comeback was complete – or was it?

The game went into overtime, and at 2:35 of the extra period, rookie Daryl Evans became an instant Kings legend when he scored the game-winner. Final score: Los Angeles 6, Edmonton 5. The Kings had scored five unanswered goals in the third period and overtime to complete one of the most improbable comebacks in hockey history.

The Oilers, stunned and demoralized, never recovered from the psychological blow. The Kings won the series 3-2, eliminating the Gretzky-led powerhouse in a massive upset. For Edmonton, it was a devastating learning experience; for Los Angeles, it was a moment that would live forever in franchise lore.

The Miracle on Manchester remains a testament to the timeless sports axiom: it ain't over till it's over. It's shown in highlight reels and referenced whenever teams face seemingly insurmountable odds. For those lucky enough to have stayed in their seats that night, they witnessed something truly special – a reminder that in sports, hope springs eternal and miracles can happen when you least expect them.

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