DALLAS CONTINUES TO PROVE IT’S DOWN, BUT NEVER OUT
After falling behind 3-0 in the opening 15:16 of Game 2, the Stars nearly drew even after Joe Pavelski and Mattias Janmark netted second- and third-period goals, respectively. The Stars have made a habit of staging comebacks this postseason – with an NHL-best eight comeback victories thus far – but ultimately fell short in Game 2.

* There have been only six instances in NHL history of a team overcoming a three-goal deficit to win a game in the Stanley Cup Final: Carolina (Game 1 in 2006), Pittsburgh (Game 1 in 1992), Philadelphia (Game 3 in 1987), Montreal (Game 4 in 1944 & Game 5 in 1919) and Toronto (Game 3 in 1936).

* Dallas, which shared the NHL lead with eight multi-goal comeback wins during the 2019-20 regular season, has used that resiliency to reach the Stanley Cup Final. In addition to their League-best eight comeback wins this postseason, the Stars rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 series deficits in the First Round before advancing in Game 6 with one of their League-best three multi-goal comeback wins (tied) this postseason.

* The Stars saw their four-game win streak come to an end in Game 2, but look to bounce back like they have all postseason long. Dallas is 6-2 immediately following a loss during the 2020 postseason; only one playoff year has seen the franchise earn more wins in games after a loss (7-1 in 2000).

* Anton Khudobin has been between the pipes in six of seven Stars games following a loss this postseason (5-1, 2.68 GAA, .910 SV%). Ed Belfour (7-1, 1.83 GAA, .933 SV%, 1 SO in 2000 & 6-2, 1.98 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO in 1999) is the only goaltender in franchise history to record more wins following a loss in a single postseason.

POINT, PAVELSKI BATTLE FOR MOST GOALS IN 2020 POSTSEASON
Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point (19 GP) and Dallas’ Joe Pavelski (23 GP) each scored their 10th goal of the 2020 postseason in Game 2 to move into a tie with Vancouver’s Bo Horvat (17 GP) for the most among all players this postseason.

* The 2020 Stanley Cup Final marks just the third time since 2011 that both finalists feature a player with 10 or more goals. In 2016, Pavelski (14 G in 24 GP) – then with the Sharks – was one of three players in the Final to reach the benchmark (also teammate Logan Couture: 10 G in 24 GP and Penguins forward Phil Kessel: 10 G in 24 GP). In 2015, Lightning forwards Tyler Johnson (13 G in 26 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (10 G in 26 GP) were two of four players in the Final to each hit double digits (the others were Blackhawks teammates Patrick Kane: 11 G in 23 GP and Jonathan Toews: 10 G in 23 GP).

* Johnson’s goal total in 2015 set a franchise record for one playoff year, a mark now within reach for Point. Eight of Point’s 10 goals this postseason have come at even strength to sit tied for the most among all skaters. Only two players in Lightning history have more even-strength goals in a playoff year: Johnson (10 in 2015) and Sean Bergenheim (9 in 2011).

* Pavelski is the 10th player in Stars/North Stars history to score at least 10 goals in one playoff year and first since Brett Hull (11) and Mike Modano (10) each reached the mark in 2000.

* Both Point and Pavelski have boosted their goal-scoring production during the 2020 postseason. Point is averaging 0.53 G/GP, up from his 2019-20 regular season totals (0.38 G/GP), while Pavelski is at 0.43 G/GP, an increase from 0.21 G/GP in the regular season.

GO-AHEAD GAME 3 IS PIVOTAL, BUT NOT SO MUCH LATELY

This marks the 30th time in NHL history – and third consecutive year – that a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final has been tied 1-1. This is the fourth time that the Stars/North Stars franchise has been in this scenario during the Final (also 1991, 1999 and 2000) and third instance in as many appearances for the Lightning (also 2004 and 2015).

* The winner of Game 3 in a tied best-of-seven Final has claimed the championship 22 times (75.9%; 22-7). However, in four of the past five instances, the loser of Game 3 rallied to win the Cup:

2019 Stanley Cup Final

Boston won Game 3 on the strength of a four-point showing by defenseman ToreyKrug, but St. Louis rallied to win the Cup in Game 7.

2018 Stanley Cup Final

Washington won Game 3 with Evgeny Kuznetsov’s game-winning goal, their first of four consecutive wins to claim their first Cup.

2015 Stanley Cup Final

Tampa Bay won Game 3 after a 36-save performance by Ben Bishop, but Chicago again rallied to win the Cup in Game 6.

2013 Stanley Cup Final

Boston won Game 3 with Tuukka Rask’s 28-save shutout, but Chicago rallied to win the Cup in Game 6.

2004 Stanley Cup Final

Calgary won Game 3 on the back of a Miikka Kiprusoff shutout, but Tampa Bay responded with a shutout of its own two days later en route to winning the Cup in Game 7.

* The Stars franchise was involved in one of the three other instances of a team winning the Cup despite losing Game 3 of a tied best-of-seven Final – the North Stars took a 2-1 series lead in 1991 but the Penguins claimed three straight victories to win their first of back-to-back championships.

QUICK CLICKS

* 'Quest for the Stanley Cup' goes behind scenes of Final

* Facts and Figures: Nikita Kucherov sets Lightning record during Game 2 of Final

* Bob Boughner will return as Sharks coach

* Five Questions with Wild GM Bill Guerin

* NHL announces partnership with I.B. Storey Inc.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.