Nhl Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 27, 2019
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NHL MORNING SKATE: STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS EDITION – MAY 27, 2019 STANLEY CUP FINAL BEGINS TONIGHT IN BOSTON A rematch 49 years in the making takes center stage when the Blues and Bruins face off at TD Garden in Boston for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Prior to the game, the 2019 Stanley Cup Final Party will feature a free concert headlined by country music star Chase Rice and rapper Lil Nas X. The event - which is free and open to the public - opens at 4:30 p.m. ET at Boston's City Hall Plaza. No ticket will be required to view the performance. * Since the Final went to the best-of-seven format in 1939, the team that has won Game 1 has gone on to capture the Stanley Cup 77.2% of the time (61 of 79 series). In 2018, the Capitals rallied for a series victory and the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup after losing Game 1 of the Final, winning in five games. * The winner of Game 1 in any best-of-seven series owns an all-time series record of 476-219 (68.5%), including a 9-5 mark in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. * The Bruins are 6-12-1 in their previous 19 Stanley Cup Final openers (5-11 in Game 1 of best- of-seven Final), going on to capture five of their six Stanley Cups after winning Game 1 (they lost Game 1 in 2011). Boston’s six Cups are tied for the fourth-most in NHL history. * The Blues set their sights on capturing the franchise’s first-ever win in the Stanley Cup Final (0-12). St. Louis aims to become the second franchise in as many years to win its first Cup - a streak last achieved from 2004-2007 when the Lightning, Hurricanes and Ducks each won for the first time. * Overall, Boston owns an all-time record of 53-49 in Game 1 of best-of-seven series (38-19 at home), while St. Louis is 32-30 (12-18 on road). STANLEY CUP FINAL STORYLINES Something has to give in Game 1 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final as neither Boston or St. Louis has trailed in its last three games. A look at some storylines entering Monday’s opener: * Vladimir Tarasenko aims to extend his point streak to seven games (3-5—8 in 6 GP), which would match the third-longest playoff point streak in Blues history. * Bruins forward David Krejci also enters the Final with points in each of his last six contests (2- 5—7 in 6 GP). This marks the third time in the last 27 years that a Final will begin with at least one player from each team on a point streak of at least six games. The others: 2009 (Valtteri Filppula w/ DET; Sidney Crosby w/ PIT) and 2001 (Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora w/ NJD; Ray Bourque w/ COL). * Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (39-60—99) sits one point shy of hitting career milestones for playoff goals (40) and playoff points (100). Bergeron can become the sixth Bruins player to record at least 100 playoff points (and second to hit the mark this postseason after Krejci). * Blues forward Jaden Schwartz (12-4—16) is one goal shy of tying Brett Hull (13 in 1990) for the most goals in a single postseason by a Blues player and two back of matching San Jose’s Logan Couture (14) for the most in the 2019 playoffs. * Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask and Boston each take a seven-game winning streak into the Final. Rask’s streak is the second-longest ever by a Bruins goaltender in a postseason - behind a 10-0 run by Gerry Cheevers in 1970 - while Boston’s is the third-longest in franchise playoff history. * Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington needs one win to become the fifth rookie in NHL history to record at least 13 wins in a postseason. * The Bruins enter the Final with an NHL-best power-play percentage of 34.0% (17-for-50). Since 1977-78, only one team has finished a postseason with a power-play success rate of at least 30.0% after a minimum of 50 opportunities: the 1981 Islanders (37.8%, 31-for-82). DID YOU KNOW? STANLEY CUP FINAL EDITION With the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs entering the final chapter, below is a look into some of the Stanley Cup Final single-game records: Any Game of Stanley Cup Final Most Goals, One Team — 9 (Detroit: Game 2 in 1936 and Toronto: Game 5 in 1942) Most Goals, Both Teams — 15 (Chicago and Montreal: Game 5 in 1973) Most Goals, One Player — 4 (Newsy Lalonde: Game 2 in 1919, Babe Dye: Game 5 in 1922, Ted Lindsay: Game 2 in 1955, and Maurice Richard: Game 1 in 1957) Most Assists, One Player — 4 (9x; last: Evgeny Kuznetsov: Game 4 in 2018) Most Points, One Player — 5 (6x; last: Jari Kurri: Game 2 in 1990) Most Shots, One Team — 63 (Montreal: Game 3 in 1967, Florida: Game 4 in 1996 and Chicago: Game 1 in 2013) ^Since 1959-60 Most Saves, One Goaltender — 63 (Patrick Roy: Game 4 in 1996) ^Since 1955-56 Most Hits, Both Teams — 143 (Dallas: 74 and New Jersey: 69, Game 6 in 2000) Most Time on Ice, One Player — 54:09 (Sergei Zubov: Game 6 in 1999) ^Since 1997-98 Fastest Goal from Start of Any SCF Game — 0:10 (John Byce: Game 3 in 1990) Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final Most Goals, One Team — 8 (Montreal in 1973) Most Goals, Both Teams — 11 (Chicago and Philadelphia in 2010) Most Goals, One Player — 4 (Maurice Richard in 1957) Most Assists, One Player — 4 (Sid Abel in 1943) Most Points, One Player — 5 (Sid Abel in 1943) Most Shots, One Team — 63 (Chicago in 2013) Most Saves, One Player — 59 (Tuukka Rask in 2013) ^Since 1955-56 Most Hits, Both Teams — 120 (Chicago: 61 and Boston: 59, in 2013) Most Time on Ice, One Player — 48:40 (Duncan Keith in 2013) ^Since 1997-98 Fastest Goal from Start of SCF Game 1 — 0:15 (Sid Smith in 1951) * Game 1 of the Final has required overtime 18 times, most recently in 2014 between the Kings and Rangers. In that contest, Justin Williams netted his eighth goal of the postseason 4:36 into overtime. STANLEY CUP FINAL MEDIA DAY As players made the rounds at Stanley Cup Final Media Day, Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo and his predecessor David Backes reflected on the opportunity at hand. * Pietrangelo, who led the team in scoring during the First Round, discussed the impact of leading the Blues to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 49 years. * Backes served as captain for five of his 10 seasons with the Blues and still ranks among the top 10 in regular season games played (5th; 727), goals (7th; 206), points (7th; 460) and assists (10th; 254). ANOTHER LOOK BACK The playoff history between the Blues and Bruins will be a focal point throughout the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with an embronzed Bobby Orr still soaring through the air outside TD Garden. The sheet below shows the rosters from Game 4 of the 1970 Final, which ended on Orr’s goal 40 seconds into overtime. PLAYOFF QUICK CLICKS * Bruce Cassidy, Craig Berube grateful for another chance as coaches with Bruins, Blues * Bruins rely on veteran core heading into Stanley Cup Final against Blues * Stanley Cup Final blog: Sean Kuraly * Stanley Cup Final blog: Colton Parayko * Blues, Bruins mirror image of each other in Cup Final .