The Chicago Blackhawks (58-32-3-3) just don't know when to say die. They probably should have been dead in the water on Saturday night when they allowed their flurry of goals to the Anaheim Ducks (61-24-5-5).
But they were able to persevere in overtime to push this to a de facto best-of-three series beginning Monday night at the Pond.
ODDS ANALYSIS
This series just couldn't be any closer than it has been over the course of these last three games. These teams punch and counterpunch each other with remarkable balance, and three straight one-goal games prove just that point.
The odds have been slightly tilted in Chicago's favor throughout this series, as the Blackhawks were around -150 in each of their home games and just around +110 in their two road games. We suspect that this one will settle in around Anaheim -130 on Monday.
GOALIE REPORT
Joel Quenneville knew that he was going to have to rely upon Corey Crawford at some point in these playoffs when things weren't going well, and he did the job on Saturday night for sure.
Quenneville could have pulled Crawford after he allowed three goals in 37 seconds, but he stuck to his guns, and the vet made him look like a genius. Crawford stopped all 21 shots he faced in overtime to earn a massive victory.
Frederik Andersen has now been beaten three times in these playoffs in 13 games, but he has still yet to be downed in regulation. The Dane only stopped 35-of-40 shots on Saturday though, and that really isn't good enough at this point of the second season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We always talk about highs and lows in the playoffs, and we learn and move on. It's one game. We still have home ice advantage. We were right there." – Ducks forward Corey Perry on the emotional rollercoaster which the playoffs provide to all participants
SITUATIONAL BETTING
There's just no stopping the Blackhawks in overtime. They’re 4-0 in these playoffs in the extra frame, including going 2-0 now in this series. Both OTs have had to go deep into extra time to find a winner, but in both cases, Chicago was able to get the job done to stay alive. It will be very tempting to bet on the Hawks in live betting in Game 5 if matters get into OT, especially knowing that they are going to be underdogs if it plays out that way.
PROP TALK
Corey Perry could be set to shine once again. He’s been up and down throughout this series, but scored the go-ahead goal in Game 4 and looked very dangerous in overtime as well. It isn't a mistake that he has a total of 14 shots on goal in his last three games, and if he keeps that up, he'll have a great price on his head to light the lamp once again in this one.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
We don't think you're going wrong in this game by taking either side at +1.5 goals on the puck-line or the alternate puck-line.
However, with a gun to our head, we want the Blackhawks once again. If Chicago can withstand turning a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 deficit in a span of 37 seconds and still have the character to come back and win in double overtime with the Ducks holding a 21-9 edge in shots on goal in the extra frames, it can overcome anything.
Chicago 3, Anaheim 2
BookMaker will open the odds for this Monday game before anyone else on the internet. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly interface on your smartphone or tablet provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! Game 5 of the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks will start at 9:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 25, 2015 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
