For the first time in these playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks (58-32-4-3) have been beaten in overtime.
Now, they have their backs up against the wall against the Anaheim Ducks (62-24-5-5), who are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for just the second time in franchise history.
ODDS ANALYSIS
For the most part, the home team has been right around -150 in each of the games in this series, but we wonder aloud whether the Blackhawks will be laying even more than that in this one. We know that they have a great history in elimination games, especially those played at the United Center.
What might be more interesting is the total. The total in this series has crept right along at 5 with a slight nod towards the over, but with nine goals in consecutive games, it could be time for that figure to rise just a bit.
GOALIE REPORT
Frederik Andersen was weak on Monday night, and there's no two ways about it. He allowed four goals on 28 shots, including two right at the end of the third period to let a 4-2 lead slip through his grasp, and there was no excuse for it.
The only thing that made the Dane a winner on this night was the slow start by Corey Crawford. The Ducks tallied three times on their first nine shots of the game. There was nothing that the vet could have done about the overtime winner in Game 5, but still, a final stat line of 23-of-28 save opportunities isn't good at all.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We were mad coming in here. When this team gets mad, we make strides on the ice. You can see right off the bat. We were mad, we played mad, and we scored right away. Good game. We wanted to end it early and throwing everything at them right away." – Ducks forward Ryan Kesler on the early ending to overtime in Game 5
SITUATIONAL BETTING
The situation we are eager to see is in Chicago's top line. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews played together for the first time in a long time on the ice in the third period, and Toews ended up scoring a pair of goals as a result. These two men didn't end up on the ice together at all in overtime, and the Ducks made the Blackhawks pay.
If you see these two men together on the ice, know that it’s time to bet on Chicago. The Blackhawks have the last change playing this game at home, and they should take full advantage of that fact.
PROP TALK
Toews might be unstoppable if Kane is paired with him in this one. All of a sudden at the end of Game 5, the Chicago captain was unstoppable, netting his sixth and seventh goals of this postseason, and we aren't beyond betting on him to do it again in Game 6 with the Blackhawks' season hanging in the balance.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
This series deserves seven games, and seven games is what we are going to get. We think that home ice advantage is going to be huge, not just for the sake of the crowd, but for the sake of that last change as well.
Anaheim did a really nice job matching up against Chicago for basically 58 minutes in Game 5, but Bruce Boudreau could have some real problems with the first change and not the last one in this game.
Expect to see this be the first game which Andersen loses in regulation in these playoffs, and we wouldn't be shocked if he is benched by the time this is over with.
Chicago 5, Anaheim 2
The NHL odds for this Wednesday contest will be released first by BookMaker. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks will start at 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Game 6 of this series will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
