After dropping eight goals in the first two games of this series, the Chicago Blackhawks (54-30-3-3) have to feel really good about their chances of taking out the Minnesota Wild (50-32-5-3) in Game 3 to push them to the brink of elimination.
ODDS ANALYSIS
If the betting odds in this series hold to form going forward, the Wild should be around -135 favorites or so. Home ice advantage has proven to be worth about 35 cents in these playoffs, and with Chicago favored by -135 and -137 margins in Games 1 and 2, the same spread could be assumed in the other direction for Game 3 as well.
Still, after the degree of dominance Chicago showed in the first two games, the oddsmakers might be inclined to react, and the Wild might only be very short favorites.
GOALIE REPORT
Corey Crawford has successfully silenced his critics. After stopping 30-of-31 shots faced on Sunday night at home, any talk of Scott Darling coming back off of the bench have essentially been put to rest. It was Crawford's best outing by far in these playoffs, and he has now allowed just one goal in his last four periods of hockey.
Devan Dubnyk can't say the same. The Wild aren't going to turn to Darcy Kuemper yet, but the fact of the matter is that Dubnyk can't allow seven goals on just 75 shots in this series and live to tell about it with very little margin for error left in Minnesota's season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I think it was our best game all the way around. I thought we had real good pace and energy right off the outset. Good pace to our game, defensively solid. I thought all lines were consistent, had a lot of offensive zone time, puck possession. Played the right way." – Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville on Chicago's win in Game 2
SITUATIONAL BETTING
What's scary for Minnesota is that the time is going to come when its power play isn't going to work. The Wild should be happy to have two goals on five power plays here in this series, but that also means they only have two even strength goals for the series as well.
PROP TALK
Patrick Kane scored two goals on Sunday in his 101st career playoff start. He now has five goals and five assists here in eight postseason games, and he’s managed at least one point in five straight games.
Remember that thanks to his broken collarbone, Kane sat out for almost two full months, and he is just getting his skates back under him. That could be scary for the Wild.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
Still, we don't believe that Minnesota is dead quite yet. The Wild have been badly outplayed from the start of this series, but we think they’re going to show some life now that they get to return to home ice.
Dubnyk held the Blues to just one goal in Game 6 and shut them out in Game 3 here in the Twin Cities, and though the start in the middle in front of the hometown crowd was a disaster, we believe he’’ have one of his best showings of this series.
Minnesota 2, Chicago 0
BookMaker will open the odds for this Tuesday 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 3 of the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild will start at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
