The Chicago Blackhawks (55-30-3-3) have had no troubles getting out to a 3-0 lead against the Minnesota Wild (50-33-5-3) in this best-of-seven series. Minnesota's season will end at the hands of the Blackhawks for the third straight season if it can't win on Thursday night.
ODDS ANALYSIS
This was expected to be a really close series every step of the way, and the fact of the matter is that two of the three games have been decided by just one goal. Chicago was favored by -135 and -137 margins at home, and not surprisingly, Minnesota was a -142 favorite in Game 3.
However, we expect to see that tempered just a bit here in Game 4. Minnesota will still be favored, but we doubt that it'll be by more than about a -130 margin or so.
GOALIE REPORT
Corey Crawford is officially back. Since allowing three goals in the second period against Minnesota in Game 1, he has conceded a total of just one goal. The Blackhawks have really played well defensively to take a lot of pressure off of Crawford, but to stop 68-of-69 shots since that point in any playoff series is fantastic.
We just don't know what more Devan Dubnyk could do than what he did in Game 3. He made some tremendous saves at point blank range that would have classified as highway robbery, and he only allowed one goal to get through. That one was enough to make him the loser, though it was good to see him rebound after two tough games.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Two things: Character and belief. There will be no feeling sorry for ourselves in that locker room. Obviously, we're disappointed to be in this spot, but we've got to find a way." – Wild head coach Mike Yeo on what his team has to do to get back in this series
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Chicago had one power play in Game 3, and that was all that it needed. Patrick Kane scored the one goal of the game on the man advantage to give the Blackhawks that crucial Game 3 win, and it showed just how important the man advantage is in this series. Three of the 13 goals between these two have been scored on the power play, and we figure that will continue when push comes to shove in Game 4.
PROP TALK
Jason Pominville has had a really rich history of playing in the playoffs, including playing well in the opening round against St. Louis with five points in six games. However, here against the Blackhawks, the vet has been completely stymied and frustrated. We just can't bet on a man who has just nine shots on goal and no points in three games no matter what the circumstance is.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
Minnesota has a ton of heart, but it is just overmatched right now by a significantly better team. The Blackhawks probably aren't going to win this last game by a huge margin, but winning it by one is just the same as winning it by 10.
Expect to see the Wild lay down at the end, just as we saw with Winnipeg in Game 4 against Anaheim after losing a heartbreaker in Game 3.
Chicago 3, Minnesota 2
The NHL lines for this Thursday 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 this series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild will commence on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 9:30 p.m. ET at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
