ODDS ANALYSIS
We’ve seen enough from the Chicago Blackhawks in the Jonathan Toews/Patrick Kane era to know that they can never be counted out. But just how good they are at coming back when trailing in the postseason may surprise you.
The Hawks have rallied from a 2-1 series deficit to emerge triumphant in four out of their last five playoff series. Joel Quenneville’s squad find themselves down 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final but will have an opportunity to even things up. The Hawks are pegged as -162 favorites in Game 4.
History is on Tampa Bay’s side after Monday’s win. When the road team wins Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, they are a perfect 13-0 in the series and that’s exactly where the Lightning sit after their 3-2 win. So not surprisingly the line has been adjusted making the Bolts a -180 favorite to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.
GOALIE REPORT
The secrecy surrounding Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop and his ‘ailment’ has become comical and the NHL needs to address this injury report nonsense sooner rather than later. It’s bad enough we get the always informative upper or lower body injury reports on players, but with Bishop, it appears to be a ‘body’ injury, or something. You have to hand it to the Lightning for keeping this top secret information under wraps for as long as they have.
Bishop was clearly bothered by something during Monday’s game, not moving as quickly in his net and struggling at times to get to his feet, but he still turned in a solid 36-save performance to get the Bolts the lead in the series. He was aided by the Hawks, who missed two open net shots in the first period that would’ve made for an entirely different setting.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I don’t think there’s one thing you can put a finger on. I think, you know, the guys in the room, we want to be out there and win. We want to be out there in those situations and play in big games. For whatever reason, I think we play our best games when our backs are up against the wall.” – Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Playing with just four defensemen for a majority of the postseason is hard enough, but when one of those four goes down the pressure ramps up for the others. Johnny Oduya departed Monday’s game in the second period with what the Blackhawks classified an upper-body injury. He did return and played only five minutes during the third period.
Any issue for Chicago’s top four defensemen could have a major impact on the series with Oduya, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson eating up close to 90 percent of the defense minutes over the last two series. If Oduya can’t go the Hawks will rely on rookie Trevor van Riemsdyk, who picked up the slack on Monday, and either David Rundblad or veteran Kimmo Timonen.
Expect ice time for the remaining top three defenders to increase and tired legs mean more scoring opportunities for the Lightning.
PROP TALK
There was no panic for Hawks captain Jonathan Toews and company following Monday’s 3-2 loss, putting them in a 2-1 series hole. But Toews and Patrick Kane need to be more productive than the combined one point through the first three games of the series.
“If you don’t want that challenge, if you don’t want that spotlight, then you shouldn’t be here,” Toews said. “I think we all work for that. We want to play in those important games.” There’s no game more important than Wednesday’s and faced with a similar situation against Anaheim in the Western Conference final, Toews and Kane each responded with a goal and combined for three points to even that series. We expect the veteran leaders to break through.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
Three one-goal games have made for a most exciting series. The only thing missing so far is an overtime game and you can expect there will be one at some point. Led by defenseman Victor Hedman the Lightning have completely shut down Hawks’ superstars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and those two are simply too good to goalless for long. Chicago missed a few opportunities on Monday night with Marian Hossa firing wide at an open net in the first period that would have completely turned that game around. The Hawks make this a best-of-three by evening the series on Kane’s overtime winner.
Chicago 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
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 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks will commence on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 8 p.m. ET at United Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
