ODDS ANALYSIS
The Blackhawks came through once again for their bettors in a big game situation during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday night. Chicago beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in Florida to take a 3-2 series lead, which is something we’ve become accustomed to seeing. With Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in the fold, the Hawks are now 7-1 in games when the series is tied 2-2.
The Hawks are 8-0 in those series and they’ll have an opportunity to make in nine straight and host the Stanley Cup in front of their hometown fans on Monday. BookMaker has the Hawks as -170 moneyline favorites for Game 6.
Every game of the series has been decided by one goal and, according the ESPN Stats and Info, it’s the first time that each of the first five games of the Cup Final have been decided by a single goal since 1951. The teams cashed the under in each of the last three games and played below the scoreline in four of five. BookMaker has the total for Game 6 at 5
GOALIE REPORT
Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop appears to have recovered from whatever was bothering him enough to keep him out of Game 4. But he made a costly error Saturday on a play that resulted in Chicago’s first goal. Bishop and defenseman Victor Hedman collided, both whiffed on a clearing attempt and the puck went right on the stick of Patrick Sharp who deposited the gift in the Tampa net.
Bishop stayed down on the ice after the collision and was tended to by the training staff, but remained in the game. He again looked slow getting to his feet and his lateral movement wasn’t as crisp as in earlier games, but he made a few stellar saves and had 27 in the game.
Chicago’s Corey Crawford had a blunder of his own when his clearing attempt went right to Nikita Kucherov. He recovered to prevent a goal and Kucherov got injured on the play when he crashed into the post. Those two mistakes prove just how close this series is.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Whether we’re one win away or 15 wins away, you come in with that belief and you know what your team is capable of. It’s a great group, and we understand how unique this group is and how unique this chance is.” – Chicago captain Jonathan Toews
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Hungry for goals in the series it’s possible the Lightning could be without one of their top offensive players after Nikita Kucherov crashed into the net in the first period Saturday and didn’t return.
If Kucherov, part of the Lightning’s high-scoring ‘Triplets’ line that also features Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, can’t play in Game 6, someone will need to fill the void. Rookie Jonathan Drouin filled in for long stretches Saturday night, and coach Jon Cooper even tried Steven Stamkos on the line for a while.
“It’s always tough. He’s a big part of our team and a big part of that one line we have. But, it shouldn’t hurt us too much. We have a deep team. We have guys that can step in and make plays,” defenseman Anton Stralman said.
Kucherov has one goal and two assists in the series and 10 goals and 22 points in 25 playoff games.
PROP TALK
The offensive stars on each side are still struggling and you expect them to break out at some point. Chicago’s Patrick Kane is still without a goal in the series and Jonathan Toews has just one. Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos has no goals in seven games and playoff scoring leader Tyler Johnson has one goal in nine games.
But secondary scoring has been there for both sides with Chicago’s Antoine Vermette netting his second game-winner of the series in the Hawks’ 2-1 win on Saturday, putting them on the brink of winning the Cup. Kane is no stranger to netting big goals but he hasn’t scored Game 6 of the Western Conference final against Anaheim. He tallied the Cup-winning overtime goal in Philadelphia back in 2010 to get the Hawks their first title in this run.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
You couldn’t ask for a closer more exciting series than this has been with all five games decided by a single goal and you get the feeling this series is destined for seven games. However the Hawks will have something to say about that. Chicago played more disciplined in Game 5 getting the win for the series edge and with the chance to skate around the United Center ice with the Cup is something this group has been denied in its last two Cup-clinching wins. In fact the last time the Hawks won the Cup on home ice was back in 1938. Tampa Bay has been good on the road and came back from a 3-2 series deficit in the first round against Detroit, but Chicago’s battle-tested group does enough to get the home win.
Chicago 4, Tampa Bay 2
The NHL lines for this Saturday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. Minute-by-minute puck-lines, totals, moneylines and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering today! Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks will commence on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
