Trends:

* More than half of the games this postseason (53 of 86, 61.6%) have been tied or within one goal entering the final five minutes of regulation, including the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final.

* All three games in the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal; that had not happened since 2010, a series that also featured the Blackhawks (vs. PHI). The opening four games of the Stanley Cup Final have not been decided by one goal since 1968, when the Canadiens swept the Blues.

First Four Games of 1968 Stanley Cup Final
Game 1: MTL 3 at STL 2 (OT)
Game 2: MTL 1 at STL 0
Game 3: STL 3 at MTL 4 (OT)
Game 4: STL 2 at MTL 3

* Overall, eight of the past 10 games between the Lightning and Blackhawks have been decided by one goal dating to March 9, 2011 (TBL: 8-1-1, CHI: 2-4-4).

* More than one-third of the games this postseason have featured a comeback win (32 of 86, 37.2%), including all three games thus far in the Stanley Cup Final.

* Dating to Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final – which also featured the Blackhawks – seven of the past nine Stanley Cup Final games have seen the victorious team overcome a deficit at any point in the contest, including five in the third period.

Last Nine Stanley Cup Final Games, Dating to 2013
2015: Game 3 – TBL 3 at CHI 2 (TBL trailed 2-1 in 3rd period)
2015: Game 2 – CHI 3 at TBL 4 (TBL trailed 2-1 in 2nd period)
2015: Game 1 – CHI 2 at TBL 1 (CHI trailed 1-0 in 3rd period)
2014: Game 5 – NYR 2 at LAK 3 (2OT) (LAK trailed 2-1 in 3rd period)
2014: Game 4 – LAK 1 at NYR 2^
2014: Game 3 – LAK 3 at NYR 0^
2014: Game 2 – NYR 4 at LAK 5 (2OT) (LAK trailed 4-2 in 3rd period)
2014: Game 1 – NYR 2 at LAK 3 (OT) (LAK trailed 2-0 in 1st period)
2013: Game 6 – CHI 3 at BOS 2 (CHI trailed 2-1 in 3rd period)
^ Winning team did not trail

* The Lightning have scored the opening goal in four consecutive games (dating to Game 7 of the CF at NYR). They are 11-1 in that scenario during the playoffs; their lone such loss was in Game 1 vs. CHI. The Blackhawks are 9-1 when scoring the opening goal this postseason, with their last such contest in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final at ANA.

* The Lightning are 3-0-1 in their past four visits to United Center dating to April 3, 2011 (regular season and playoffs). They pace the NHL with an 8-3 road record this postseason – including four consecutive wins – and have outscored opponents 31-18 as visitors.

* Despite suffering the Game 3 loss, the Blackhawks continue to lead the NHL with a 7-2 home record during the playoffs. They have outscored opponents 32-22 at United Center, with their two losses coming in Games 3 of the Western Conference Final (2-1 L vs. ANA) and Stanley Cup Final (3-2 L vs. TBL).

* The Blackhawks are 3-0 in Game 4s this postseason, the Lightning are 1-2. The Blackhawks are 40-14 in Games 4-7 dating to the start of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs (6-2 this year).

* The Blackhawks have overcome a 2-1 series deficit in six of nine instances since the start of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That includes a six-game series victory in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final vs. BOS.

STANLEY CUP FINAL HISTORY
The team that has won Game 3 after a split of the opening two contests of the Final has gone on to capture the Stanley Cup 21 of 26 times (80.8%) since the series adopted the best-of-seven format in 1939. Road clubs that have won Game 3 in that scenario are 13-0 in the Stanley Cup Final.

* In the last such instance, in 2013, the Blackhawks lost Game 3 at BOS (2-0 L) before ultimately winning the Stanley Cup in six games.

* In the instance prior to that, in 2004, the Lightning also lost Game 3 at CGY (3-0 L) before ultimately winning the Stanley Cup in seven games.

* The other three instances in which the loser of Game 3 ultimately won the Stanley Cup following a split of the opening two contests of the Final: the 1964 Maple Leafs (in 7 GP vs. DET), the 1989 Flames (in 6 GP vs. MTL) and the 1991 Penguins (in 6 GP vs. MIN).

GARRISON, DESJARDINS BLOGS ON NHL.COM
Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison and Blackhawks forward Andrew Desjardinswill be blogging for NHL.com throughout the Stanley Cup Final, offering insight on what’s happening inside the locker room as well as within the confines of the rink.

Click here for the latest entry by Desjardins.

GAME 3 CONTINUES RECORD-SETTING TREND ON NBC SPORTS
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final averaged 3.896 million viewers on NBCSN, making it the third most-watched Stanley Cup Final game ever on the network. The only Stanley Cup Final games on NBCSN to surpass that viewership were Games 2 and 3 of the 2013 series that also featured the Blackhawks (vs. BOS). The game peaked in the final full quarter-hour with 5.262 million viewers from 10:45 – 11:00 p.m. ET.

Game 3 also was the most-streamed authenticated NHL game ever on NBC Sports Live Extra, setting records in visits (219,000), uniques (189,000) and minutes watched (11.4 million). Digital engagement peaked in the 10:00 p.m. ET hour with 128,000 uniques.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.