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Get your game notes: ‘Hawks at Kings

Kings Blackhawks Hockey

Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews (19), right, controls the puck against Los Angeles Kings’ Jake Muzzin (6) during the second period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Chicago on Sunday, May 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP

Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the L.A. Kings hosting the Chicago Blackhawks starting at 8 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:

• After a four-point performance (3-1—4) in Game 2, Kings center Jeff Carter registered three more points (1-2—3) in Game 3. Carter became the first L.A. player to post 3+ points in consecutive playoff games since 1993, when Wayne Gretzky had back-to-back four-point nights in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final vs. TOR (3-1—4) and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final vs. MTL (1-3—4). Carter and Gretzky were on the winning side in each of their two multi-point games. (Elias Sports Bureau)

• This series, the Kings’ second line (a.k.a. “That 70s Line”) of #70 Tanner Pearson (0-4—4) – #77 Carter (4-4—8) – #73 Tyler Toffoli (3-0—3) has combined for 15 points (7-8—15), exactly as many as the rest of the Kings’ roster combined (4-11—15). In Game 3, Toffoli scored a goal for the third straight game, becoming only the third rookie since 1992 to score at least one goal in three consecutive conference final or Stanley Cup Final games in one playoff year. (Elias Sports Bureau)

Dwight King: Los Angeles 2012 Western Conference Final Games 1, 2, 3 (four goals) Chris Kreider: N.Y. Rangers 2012 Eastern Conference Final Games 1, 2, 3 (three goals) Toffoli: Los Angeles 2014 Western Conference Final Games 1, 2, 3 (three goals)

• While Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews scored two first-period goals on his only two shots on goal of the game in Game 3, teammate Patrick Kane was kept off the score sheet for the third straight game. Kane, who scored three goals in the second round vs. MIN (including his “Showtime” goal in Game 1 and series-clincher in overtime of Game 6), has zero points, seven shots on goal and a -3 rating vs. L.A.

• In the past three postseasons (2012-2014), Carter has 22 playoff goals, the most in the NHL (Chicago’s Brian Bickell is next, with 17). In the past five (2010-2014), Carter and two other former Philadelphia Flyers have the most goals. All three are playing on one of the teams currently vying for the 2014 Stanley Cup title: Montreal’s Daniel Briere (30), Chicago’s Patrick Sharp (28) and Carter (28).

• The Blackhawks, who went 1-2 on the road in each of their first two series this postseason, would be guaranteed of a losing road record in this series with a loss at Staples Center in Game 4 (or a potential Game 6). The 1969-70 St. Louis Blues were the last team to reach the Stanley Cup Final after posting a losing road record in all of their series leading up. (In a three-round playoff system, the Blues went 1-2 on the road vs. both Minnesota and Pittsburgh, then were swept by Boston in the Final.) (Elias Sports Bureau)

• Through the first two rounds (vs. STL and MIN) and first five periods of the Western Conference Final (vs. LA), the Blackhawks allowed four goals on 50 shorthanded opportunities, for an NHL-best 92.0% penalty-kill efficiency. In their last four periods (the third period of Game 2 and all of Game 3), they allowed three PPG (Carter, Jake Muzzin, Slava Voynov) on five shorthanded opportunities (40.0%).

• Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford has allowed nine goals on his last 45 shots faced (.800 save%) after allowing only one goal on 43 shots to begin the series. Crawford, who was the losing goalie in Games 2 and 3, has only lost three straight playoff games on two previous occasions: Games 1-3 vs. Vancouver in 2011 (his first-career playoff games) and Games 2-4 vs. Detroit in 2013.

• This postseason, Chicago has allowed 23 goals in seven road games (3.29 goals/game). In those games, the Blackhawks are 0-5 when allowing three or more goals; 2-0 when allowing two or fewer. During the 2013-14 regular season, the Blackhawks were 4-11-6 when allowing 3+ goals in a road game; 15-3-2 when allowing two or fewer.