Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the Montreal Canadiens hosting the Boston Bruins starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:
--- Boston has trailed by at least two goals in each game this series—only winning Game 2—but could not complete a three-goal comeback in Game 3. Montreal is undefeated at home this postseason and has won 6 of 7 postseason games, its best stretch in the playoffs since winning 11 straight during its last Stanley Cup run in 1992-93. Boston trails for the second time in this series and for the third straight series, dating back to last season’s Stanley Cup Final against Chicago. Montreal has yet to trail in a series this postseason.
--- Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (goal, assist in Game 3) has 2 points in each game this series (3 goals, 3 assists in series), becoming the 3rd Montreal defenseman with 3 consecutive multi-point games in the playoffs (Larry Robinson –1978 & 1987, J.C. Tremblay – 1971). Subban has now earned multiple points in 5 of his last 6 games and has 3 goals, 8 assists during a 6-game point streak. Subban is the 1st Canadiens defenseman to record a 6-game playoff point streak since Robinson did so in 1985. He has more than tripled his goal-scoring rate from the regular season, while more than doubling his assist rate. Subban’s 11 points currently lead all defensemen & are 4th overall this postseason. Elias Sports Bureau
--- Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron scored for the second straight contest in Game 3, pushing his career-best playoff point streak to 7 games (3 goals, 6 assists). He is the first Bruins player to record a 7-game playoff point streak since Adam Oates earned points in 9 straight games in 1992. Bergeron and his linemates, Brad Marchand and Reilly Smith, have outperformed Boston’s top line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Jarome Iginla so far in this series. Most notably absent from Boston’s scoring leaders is Krejci (0 goals, 3 assists), who led the playoffs in scoring two of the past three seasons (2012-13: 9-17—26; 2010-11: 12-11—23). Elias Sports Bureau
--- Montreal is the only team to score 3+ goals in each game this postseason (3.86 goals/game, 1st in playoffs). Boston has allowed 3+ goals in each game in this series after not allowing any such games in the First Round vs. DET (BOS allowed 1.20 goals/game vs. DET – lowest in any First Round series).
--- Canadiens goaltender Carey Price made 26 saves in Game 3 to improve to 6-1 in the playoffs with a 2.47 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. As for Boston, Tuukka Rask led all goalies in the First Round in GAA (1.16) and save% (.961), having allowed 6 goals in 5 games vs. DET. But in the Second Round vs. MTL, he has allowed 10 goals in 3 games, giving up 3+ goals in each game (2.97 GAA, .884 save% in Second Round).
--- Both teams were 0-1 on the power play in Game 3, but the disparity in special teams during the series has been greater. Montreal has converted 4 of 10 opportunities (40%), the best percentage in any Second Round series, while Boston has yet to score on the power play in this series, going 0 for 6, tied with the New York Rangers (0 for 13) for the worst rate in any Second Round series.