* The Blackhawks pace the NHL with an 8-2 home record during the playoffs, outscoring their opponents 34-23. Their two losses at United Center were in Games 3 of the Western Conference Final (2-1 L vs. ANA) and Stanley Cup Final (3-2 L vs. TBL).

* Saad registered a go-ahead goal in the third period for the second consecutive game. He has eight goals overall this postseason (a career high), including one other game-winner (in Game 3 of the FR vs. NSH).

* Saad has 15-18—33 in 65 career playoff games, including 13-12—25 at United Center (34 GP). Nine of his 10 points this postseason have been recorded on home ice (7-2—9 in 10 GP).

* Per ESPN Stats & Info, six of Saad’s eight goals this postseason have given the team the lead; one has tied the game and one other has extended the club’s lead.

* Jonathan Toews opened the scoring to establish a career high with his 10th goal of the playoffs (10-10—20 in 21 GP); he posted nine goals during last year’s run to the Western Conference Final (9-8—17 in 19 GP).

* Toews and teammate Patrick Kane (10-11—21 in 21 GP) both have reached double-digits in goals this postseason. Via Elias, there only have been two other instances in which a pair of Blackhawks have recorded at least 10 goals in one playoff year: in 1971 (Bobby Hull: 11 and Jim Pappin: 10) and 2010 (Dustin Byfuglien: 11, Patrick Sharp: 11 and Kane: 10).

* Kane collected an assist on Saad’s goal to up his career playoff totals to 47-65—112, moving past Steve Larmer (45-66—111) and into sole possession of fourth place in franchise history. The only Blackhawks to register more career postseason points: Stan Mikita (59-91—150), Denis Savard (61-84—145) and Hull (62-67—129).

* Corey Crawford made 24 saves to improve to 11-6 during the playoffs (2.50 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO). That includes a 6-2 record at United Center (1.96 GAA, .934 SV%).

* In his career (all w/ CHI), Crawford owns 27-10 record in 38 career postseason appearances on home ice (2.00 GAA, .926 SV%, 1 SO).

* The Blackhawks scored the opening goal for the first time in the Stanley Cup Final. They improved to 10-1 when doing so this postseason, with their lone such loss in Game 5 of the First Round at NSH (5-2 L).

AS CLOSE AS IT GETS . . .
* The opening four games of the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal for just the third time in NHL history. The other instances: in 1968, when the Canadiens swept the Blues, and 1951, when all five games between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens required overtime.

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

1951 Stanley Cup Final
Game 1: MTL 2 at TOR 3 (OT)
Game 2: MTL 3 at TOR 2 (OT)
Game 3: TOR 2 at MTL 1 (OT)
Game 4: TOR 3 at MTL 2 (OT)
Game 5: MTL 2 at TOR 3 (OT)

* Overall, nine of the past 11 games between the Blackhawks and Lightning have been decided by one goal dating to March 9, 2011 (CHI: 3-4-4, TBL: 8-2-1).

* All four games in the Stanley Cup Final have been tied or within one goal entering the final five minutes of regulation, as have more than half of all contests this postseason (54 of 87, 62.1%).

* The Lightning did not hold the lead at any point in the game for the first time in Stanley Cup Final. Overall, the Lightning have led for 38.5% of total playing time in the series, while the Blackhawks have led for 10.4%. The teams have been tied for 51.1% of total playing time – the clubs have been tied or separated by one goal for the entire series.

. . . A CLOSER LOOK
A breakdown of the Stanley Cup Final through four games:

Games Played: 4
Wins by Team: CHI – 2, TBL – 2
Total Goals: 18
Goals by Team: CHI – 9, TBL – 9
Total Shots on Goal: 211
Shots on Goal by Team: CHI – 107, TBL – 104
Total Power-Play Goals: 3
Power-Play Goals by Team: CHI – 2/11, TBL – 1/11

NOBODY SAID IT WOULD BE EASY
With the Blackhawks and Lightning now even at two games apiece, 10 of the last 12 Stanley Cup Final series (dating to 2003) have required at least six games.

DID YOU KNOW?
The Stanley Cup Final is tied at 2-2 for the fifth time in the past seven years, including all three series that have involved the Blackhawks:

Stanley Cup Final Results After 4 GP, Since 2009
2015 – TBL vs. CHI (2-2)
2014 – LAK vs. NYR (3-1)^
2013 – CHI vs. BOS (2-2)
2012 – LAK vs. NJD (3-1)^
2011 – BOS vs. VAN (2-2)
2010 – CHI vs. PHI (2-2)
2009 – PIT vs. DET (2-2)
^ LAK led both series 3-1 after four games

VASILEVSKIY MAKES FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF START
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (17 SV), who has appeared in relief in three contests this postseason, made his first career playoff start.

* Via Elias, Vasilevskiy became the sixth goaltender in NHL history to make his first career playoff start in the Stanley Cup Final. The others:

Joe Miller (NYR) in 1928 – Game 3 at Mtl. M. (2-0 L)
Alfie Moore (CHI) in 1938 – Game 1 at TOR (3-1 W)
Paul Goodman (CHI) in 1938 – Game 2 at TOR (5-1 L)
Hank Bassen (DET) in 1961 – Game 2 vs. CHI (3-1 W)
Jussi Markkanen (EDM) in 2006 – Game 2 at CAR (5-0 L)

* Per Sportsnet Stats, Vasilevskiy (20 years, 10 months) also became the fourth-youngest goaltender to start a game in the Stanley Cup Final. The only younger goaltenders to do so: Detroit’s Harry Lumley in 1945 (18 years, 4 months), Minnesota’s Don Beaupre in 1981 (20 years, 4 months) and Montreal’s Patrick Roy in 1986 (20 years, 7 months).

* Vasilevskiy, the 19th overall selection by the Lightning in the 2012 NHL Draft, played 9:13 during a pair of relief stints to backstop the club to a 4-3 victory in Game 2 (5 SV). He became the fourth goaltender to win a game in the Stanley Cup Final that he did not start. The others: New York’s Lester Patrick in Game 2 of the 1928 F at Mtl. M. (2-1 OT W), Buffalo’s Roger Crozier in Game 3 of the 1975 F vs. PHI (5-4 OT W) and Pittsburgh’s Frank Pietrangelo in Game 5 of the 1991 F vs. MIN (6-4 W).

* Of those three, Patrick was the only other goaltender to earn his first career playoff win with that performance. On April 7, 1928, Patrick – the 44-year-old coach of the Rangers – relieved the club’s starter, Lorne Chabot, who was injured in the game.

* In Game 2, Vasilevskiy also became the fourth goaltender in the past 77 years to record his first career playoff win in the Stanley Cup Final. The others: Toronto’s Al Rollins in Game 3 of the 1951 F at MTL (2-1 OT W), Detroit’s Hank Bassen in Game 2 of the 1961 F vs. CHI (3-1 W) and Edmonton’s Jussi Markkanen in Game 3 of the 2006 F vs. CAR (2-1 W).

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 to view the latest entry by Garrison.

STANLEY CUP FINAL CONTINUES TO SET VIEWERSHIP MILESTONES
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final delivered a 2.93 overnight rating on NBCSN, surpassing Game 3 (2.88) as the second-best overnight rating for a Stanley Cup Final game on the network.

Locally, Game 4 drew a 13.9 rating in Tampa, replacing Game 3 (13.2) as the best rating ever for a Lightning game on NBCSN. Game 4 also produced a 22.2 rating in Chicago, up 38% vs. the average NBCSN rating in the market during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final (16.1).

LOOSE PUCKS
The Lightning suffered their first road loss since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at NYR, snapping a four-game winning streak as visitors . . . After allowing 19 shots on goal in the first period of Game 3 – their most in any period this postseason – the Lightning yielded just two shots on goal in the opening period of Game 4 – their fewest in any period during the playoffs . . . Forward Alex Killorn scored the lone goal for the Lightning. He has nine goals this postseason (24 GP) after registering 15 during the regular season (71 GP) . . . Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa notched one assist to raise his career playoff totals to 49-95—144 (192 GP), tied for 26th in NHL history in postseason assists and tied for 31st all-time in playoff points . . . Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith led all skaters with 29:07 of ice-time. He paces the NHL with 655:55 of total time on ice this postseason, nearly 82 minutes more than the next-closest player (Victor Hedman – 574:02) . . . Blackhawks defenseman Kimmo Timonen made his seventh career appearance in the Stanley Cup Final and first since Game 6 of the 2010 series vs. CHI (w/ PHI).

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department