But instead of succumbing to the playoff collapse, which many people thought was inevitable, the Nets regrouped.

Jagr entered this season by taking the reins as the Rangers' captain, aiming to improve on the team's first-round playoff collapse a year ago.

They had all that time to think about it, all those weeks and months to absorb their devastating playoff collapse.

Sometime between the shocking first-round playoff collapse last spring and tonight, the Devils elevated Carolina from a new rival into a baffling nemesis.

They had blown it, 39-38, with the second-largest playoff collapse in N.F.L. history.

In the immediate aftermath of the Yankees' playoff collapse, George Steinbrenner, the principal owner, implored his executives to find younger pitchers.

And the added pressure of a long history of wretched playoff collapses will not make winning Game 6 any easier.

It turned into the second-worst playoff collapse in league history - or the second-best comeback, depending on the perspective.

The Knicks talked a better game than they played tonight, insisting that the memories of last year's playoff collapse would not haunt them Wednesday.

Hextall was obtained last summer in a trade with Quebec following a playoff collapse.