Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the Los Angeles Kings at 8 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:
--- Fueled by three goals in a span of 6:56 in the first period of Game 4, the Kings jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on to to win Game 4, 5-2. Now one win away from reaching their second Stanley Cup Final in the last three years, the Kings lead a best-of-seven series three-games-to-one for the fifth time in franchise history. They have won all of the previous four series, three of which came in 2012 en route to the team capturing its first Stanley Cup. In those four series, Los Angeles was 2-2 in Game 5 and 2-0 in Game 6. Chicago is facing a three-games-to-one deficit in a best-of-seven series for the 13th time in franchise history. The Blackhawks have won just one of the previous 12 series, but their lone win came in their most recent such series: the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals vs. Detroit.
--- Since the start of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kings have won eight of 13 games in which they’ve had a chance to clinch a series, including both such games this postseason. Since the start of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Chicago is 7-3 when facing elimination, but has not been in that situation since Games 5, 6 and 7 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Detroit.
--- Through the first 13 games of the postseason, Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford posted a 9-4 record, with a 1.90 GAA and .933 save%. But in the last three games, Crawford has lost all three games, with a 4.46 GAA and .841 save%. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick lost his first three games of the postseason, with a 5.78 GAA and .852 save%, but has rebounded in his last 15 games, winning 11 contests, with a 2.08 GAA and .927 save%.
--- The Kings converted two of their three power play opportunities in Game 4 and are now 5-for-12 in the series (41.7%). They rank third in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and first among remaining clubs, with a 26.7% overall PP conversion rate (16-for-60). The Kings have allowed two power play goals in their last five games, both to the Blackhawks in Game 1 and 2, but were 4-for-4 on the penalty kill in Game 3 and 3-for-3 in Game 4. After going 44-for-48 (91.7%) on the PK in their first 13 games this postseason, the Blackhawks have yielded five PPG in 10 times shorthanded (50.0%) over their last three outings.
--- The Blackhawks tinkered with their lines somewhat in Game 4, moving Patrick Kane, who has three points (one goal) in his last nine games, to the top line alongside Jonathan Toews and Bryan Bickell. The trio played together on 18 shifts (Toews had 26 total shifts, Kane had 26 and Bickell had 23), combining for a goal, two assists, and five shots. Afterwards, head coach Joel Quenneville said, ―I thought they were good. They were alright. They generated enough. They were fine.‖
--- The Kings have the top four active scorers in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Anze Kopitar (5-17—22), Jeff Carter (8-12—20), Marian Gaborik (10-6—16) and Justin Williams (6-9—15) – Williams is tied for fourth with Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf. Kopitar has registered at least one point in 15 of the team’s 18 playoff games and has been held without a point in consecutive games only once since December 21, a span of 64 regular season and playoff games. Only Wayne Gretzky (15-25—40 in 24 GP in 1993) and Tomas Sandstrom (8-17—25 in 24 GP in 1993) have collected more points in a single postseason in Kings history (two others tied with 22). Elias Sports Bureau
--- The Kings’ second line of Tanner Pearson, Carter and Tyler Toffoli are each riding five-game point streaks, combining for 22 points and a +16 rating in that span (Pearson: 2-4—6, +6; Carter: 5-6—11, +6; Toffoli: 3-2—5, +4).
