June 2nd Stanley Cup Final Morning Skate

THREE HARD LAPS: GAME 3 OF THE FINAL

 * The Bruins scored seven times - including four power-play goals - to take a 2-1 series lead as St. Louis hosted a Stanley Cup Final game for the first time in 49 years.

 * Torey Krug (1-3—4) established a franchise record for points in a Stanley Cup Final game - achieving a feat last done by an NHL defenseman 25 years ago.

 * “The Perfection Line” of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand also found the score sheet as Boston set a franchise record with their seventh road win this postseason.



 BRUINS FILL THE NET IN GAME 3 VICTORY, TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD

After going over six minutes without a shot on goal to start the game, the Bruins stormed into the second period with a 3-0 lead and scored seven goals in total - including four via the power-play - en route to a Game 3 win against the Blues. Boston holds a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth time, winning two of the previous three such instances.

* Patrice Bergeron opened the scoring with the first of four power-play goals for Boston as they went a perfect 4-for-4 with the man advantage Saturday, improving to 23-for-64 overall this postseason (35.9%). Since the statistic became official in 1977-78, only one team has finished a playoff year with a power-play efficiency of at least 30.0% (min. 45 opportunities): the 1981 Islanders (37.8%; 31-for-82).

* The Bruins have scored a power-play goal in each of their last seven games, matching a franchise playoff record. Boston’s 23 power-play goals are one shy of tying the franchise record for most in one playoff year (24 PPG in 1991) and equal the highest total by any team since 2007 (the 2010 Flyers and 2009 Red Wings also had 23 PPG).

 * Using only 2:06 of power-play time to net their four such goals (on four shots), the Bruins also improved their road efficiency with the man advantage to 50.0% (14-for-28). They have scored at least one power-play goal in seven of nine road games in 2019, posting two of their three other 100% performances away from home (R1: Games 4 and 6 at TOR; CF: Game 2 vs. CAR).

* Boston’s power-play success is the inverse of when they won the Cup in 2011, without much help from their power play. In the opening round that year, Boston became the first team in playoff history to win a seven-game series without tallying a power-play goal (0/21 vs. MTL). They entered the Eastern Conference Final converting on just 2 of 37 opportunities (5.4%) and concluded the postseason going 10-for-88 (11.4%).

 * However, it mirrors recent trends as Boston ranked third in the NHL during the 2018-19 regular-season with a 25.9% power-play percentage (65-for-251) and finished the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 36.4% rating (12-for-33 in 12 GP).

* The Bruins, who became the sixth NHL team to score at least four power-play goals in a game during the Final, also set a franchise record for most road wins in a postseason, eclipsing the mark of six set in 1972 (6-1) and matched in 2011 (6-6) and 2013 (6-4).


KRUG SETS BRUINS RECORD WITH RARE FOUR-POINT GAME IN FINAL

Bruins defenseman Torey Krug tallied a goal and three assists - all via the power-play - to set a franchise record for points by any player in a Stanley Cup Final game.

 * The 28-year-old became the ninth defenseman in NHL history to record at least four points in a game during the Stanley Cup Final - and first since Brian Leetch 25 years ago. Denis Potvin is the only blueliner with two such performances.

* Krug also matched the Bruins record for points by a defenseman in any playoff game, matching the total achieved by Brad Park (2x), Bobby Orr, Carol Vadnais and Zdeno Chara.

* Prior to Krug in Game 3, only two other Bruins defensemen had tallied at least three points in a game during the Final - Orr had 2-1—3 in 1972 (Game 4) and 1974 (Game 5), while Park had 1-2—3 in 1977 (Game 1).

* Additionally, Krug became the fourth player - and second defenseman - to record four power-play points in a game during the Final, joining Jean Beliveau (2-2—4 in Game 5 of 1965 SCF), Potvin (2-2—4 in Game 3 of 1980 SCF) and Joe Sakic (0-4—4 in Game 2 of 1996 SCF).

 * Overall, Krug has 2-14—16 in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (20 GP), tied for the most points among blueliners this postseason. His 16 points are the most by a Bruins defenseman in a single playoff year since 1991 when Ray Bourque had 7-18—25 (19 GP).

 BERGERON NETS THREE POINTS AS ‘THE PERFECTION LINE’ STAYS HOT ON ROAD

After combining for only one empty-net goal and an assist in the opening two games of the Final, “The Perfection Line” of Patrice Bergeron (1-2—3), David Pastrnak (1-0—1) and Brad Marchand (0-1—1) combined for five points Saturday. They now have a combined 25-28—53 in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 15-16—31 in nine road games (Marchand: 5-6—11; Bergeron: 5-5—10; and Pastrnak: 5-5—10).

* Bergeron became the sixth player to accumulate at least 100 career playoff points with the Bruins, climbing into a tie with Phil Esposito for second place in franchise playoff history. He also scored his League-leading seventh power-play goal of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, two shy of the NHL record for most in a post-season.

 

* With his second-period assist, Marchand (8-12—20 in 20 GP) tied San Jose’s Logan Couture (14-6—20 in 20 GP) for the playoff scoring lead. He also set a career high for points in a single postseason, besting his previous best of 19 set as a rookie in 2011 (11-8—19 in 25 GP).

* Pastrnak (8-9—17 in 20 GP) and Charlie Coyle (8-7—15 in 20 GP) each scored their eighth goal of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tying Marchand for second on the team behind Bergeron (9-7—16 in 20 GP). This marks the third time that the Bruins have had four players each with eight or more goals in a single postseason (also four in 1983 and 2011).

SERIES SCENARIOS: THROUGH THREE GAMES

* When the Final is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to capture the Stanley Cup 78.6% of the time since the best-of-seven format was introduced in 1939 (22 of 28 series).

* When any best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 owns an all-time series record of 215-105 (67.2%).

* The Bruins hold a 2-1 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 32nd time in franchise history. Boston owns an all-time series record of 22-9 in the 31 previous scenarios, including a 2-1 mark in the Stanley Cup Final.