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Stanley Cup Final By The Numbers: Blackhawks Are Dominant When Scoring First

CHICAGO (CBS) -- At least based on past performance, if the Chicago Blackhawks score first and are leading after the first period, there will be quite the celebration tonight after Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team was won every game when it held the lead in the first period.

Second period, too, for that matter.

When the Hawks score first, they win 90 percent of the time. By that measure, it would be a good bet that the team wins the Stanley Cup for the third time since 2010.

Of course, we all know what they say about these things: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."

Their opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, doesn't fare well at all after trailing after the first 20 minutes of play.

Their winning percentage in that scenario is only .231.

The Blackhawks, on the other hand, are better at comebacks, with a .400 winning percentage when losing after the first period.

Taking a different view on the numbers, Tampa has been quite successful on the road, with eight of their 14 playoff wins coming away from Tampa.

What is certain at this point in this Stanley Cup Final is that the games have been incredibly close.

Each game has been decided by one goal.

No team has led at any point in any game by more than a goal.

The same is true for power-play opportunities: Chicago has been on the power play 13 times, Tampa 12. In two games, the teams had equal man-advantage chances.

Chicago has scored twice on those power plays; Tampa once.

Tampa Bay has 10 more shots on goal during the series, winning that statistic in four of five games.

However, the Blackhawks have won 92 percent of the time in the playoffs when they're outshot by their opponents.

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