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Get your game notes: Rangers at Kings

RangersKings2

Tonight on NBC, it’s the Los Angeles Kings hosting the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. ET in the second game of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:

• Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final went to overtime for the third straight year, the first time that has happened in NHL history. The current Game 2 OT streak is also three games (See table). Prior to 2011, the last time that either Game 1 or 2 went to OT was 2002 (all 16 games between Game 2 in 2002 and Game 1 in 2011 were decided in regulation). If another game this series goes to OT, it will mark only the second time in NHL history that multiple Cup Final games go to OT in three consecutive years (2002-04).

Results of Games 1 and 2, Stanley Cup Final, 2011-14 Year | Finalists | Game 1 | Game 2 | Series winner

2011 Boston-Vancouver at VAN, 1-0 at VAN, 3-2 (OT) Bruins in 7 2012 Los Angeles-New Jersey LA, 2-1 (OT) LA, 2-1 (OT) Kings in 6 2013 Boston-Chicago at CHI, 4-3 (3OT) BOS, 2-1 (OT) Blackhawks in 6 2014 N.Y. Rangers-Los Angeles at LA, 3-2 (OT) TBD TBD

• Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, who stopped the last 15 Rangers shots in Game 1 and raised his career Stanley Cup Final OT record to 3-0, has allowed two or fewer goals in all seven of his Cup Final starts (2012 and 2014). That ties an NHL record for most Cup Final starts allowing two or fewer goals to begin a career. Hockey Hall of Famer Alec Connell started four games for the Ottawa Senators in 1927, and three games for the Montreal Maroons in 1935. Elias Sports Bureau

• With an assist on Drew Doughty’s game-tying goal and, later, his first-career playoff OT goal, Kings winger Justin Williams set personal single-postseason highs in goals (eight), assists (12) and points (20) and moved into a tie with Patrick Kane (CHI) for third among all players in points this postseason, behind teammates Anze Kopitar (24) and Jeff Carter (23). He is also tied with Carter and Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) for most games this postseason with at least one goal and one assist (four).

• In Game 1, the Kings outshot the Rangers 20-3 in the third period. Since NHL expansion in 1967-68, the Kings’ shots on goal advantage (+17) was the largest differential of any Stanley Cup Final period, and Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist’s 20 saves were the most by a goalie during that span. It was the fifth time a team has registered 20+ shots on goal in a Cup Final period, but the first time that that team did not score; all five of those teams won the games. Elias Sports Bureau

Most shots on goal in one period by a team in Stanley Cup Final, Expansion Era (1967-68) SOG Team (Opponent) | Year | Game | Period | Opposing goalie (saves)

21 Islanders (vs. PHI) 1980 Game 3, 2nd Phil Myre (19 saves) 20 Oilers (vs. PHI) 1985 Game 3, 1st Pelle Lindbergh/Bob Froese (17 saves) 20 Kings (at MTL) 1993 Game 1, 2nd Patrick Roy (19 saves) 20 Red Wings (vs. WSH) 1998 Game 2, 3rd Olaf Kolzig (17 saves) 20 Kings (vs. NYR) 2014 Game 1, 3rd Lundqvist (20 saves)

• Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who assisted on Carl Hagelin’s second shorthanded goal of the playoffs to take the team lead in scoring (3-11—14), led all players in ice time (31:12) and shorthanded TOI (5:28), and was second in even-strength TOI (21:29; Dan Girardi – 21:42) and third in power-play TOI (4:15; Brad Richards – 4:25, Drew Doughty – 4:21). Doughty broke his own Kings franchise record (from 2012) for points by a defenseman in one playoff year (5-12—17).

• The Kings, who scored three or more goals in half (41) of their games this regular season (T-11th-fewest in NHL) have now scored 3+ goals in seven straight games (and 17 of 22 games overall) this postseason. The last team to score 3+ in eight or more consecutive playoff games was the 2009 Penguins (10).

• Since the Stanley Cup Final went to seven games in 1939, a team has taken a 2-0 series lead in 48 of 74 series (65%), most recently Los Angeles in 2012, while 26 of 74 (35%) have featured splits. Of the 48 teams that swept Games 1 and 2, 43 (90%) went on the win the Cup.