The Blackhawks go for their third Stanley Cup title in the last six years with many of the same faces playing large roles in the team’s successful run. The Lightning meanwhile have charged through three Original Six teams to reach their second Cup Final and must knock off a fourth to capture their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
ODDS ANALYSIS
In the last 10 years it’s been the chalk that’s come through for bettors in the Stanley Cup Final. Favorites have gone 41-14 since 2005 in the Stanley Cup Final series.
That’s a trend that will appeal to Tampa Bay Lightning backers as they’ve been pegged -121 favorites on BookMaker for Game 1 versus the Blackhawks. But Chicago opened at -145 to take the series and with Tampa Bay owning home-ice advantage, the Hawks will need to steal at least one on the road to claim the prize.
GOALIE REPORT
Corey Crawford backstopped the Blackhawks to the 2013 Stanley Cup, but he also got pulled from the lineup during the first round of this postseason. He’s had his ups and downs in these playoffs for sure, but he was there to be counted on in the end against Anaheim
Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop has already played 20 games in the postseason, and his last five against the Rangers were either shutouts or five-goal disappointments. He’s been huge, no pun intended, in a pair of Game 7 shutouts over Detroit in the first round and against the Rangers on Friday.
We’ll soon know whether Crawford’s experience trumps the 6-foot-7 Bishop’s unusual matchup qualities.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“This is a special group. We’ve known that all year. We said after the Rangers, we still haven’t accomplished anything yet. You’re four wins away. That’s going to be probably the hardest four wins of all our careers. We know there is a lot ahead of us.” – Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Special teams play on both sides will be magnified in the final series and despite all the talent the Blackhawks have, their power play has been a mess for years. They got a pair of man-advantage tallies in Game 7 against the Ducks, but it’s been too inconsistent to count on. Chicago has killed just 75.5 percent of opposing power-plays and that could be problem against a Lightning team that excels with the extra attacker.
Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos makes a living one-timing power-play goals from the top of the circle and the Lightning are successful 22.2 percent of the time on the power play this postseason.
The Lightning have posted better numbers than the Hawks on the penalty kill in both the regular season and postseason, but the Hawks have tallied a playoff-high three shorthanded goals.
PROP TALK
Despite playing against the defensive-minded Minnesota Wild and the hard hitting Anaheim Ducks in the last two rounds, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have done what they do best – score in big games. Toews tallied twice in the decisive Game 7 against Anaheim and has five goals in his last four games while Kane had seven points over the last five games of the series, assisting on three goals against the Ducks on Saturday.
The two were paired on the same line with Brandon Saad in Game 5 of the Anaheim series and the three clicked, creating offensive chances and goals that helped the Hawks capture the series. Expect coach Joel Quenneville to keep that group together and the production to continue.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
The Hawks are basically down to four defensemen, but they’re awfully good. Duncan Keith has been their best player this postseason and he’ll need to continue playing at an elite level to slow down the speedy Tampa Bay forwards. Chicago has a deep group of forwards led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and they’ll need to bury their chances when they come.
Tampa Bay has proven it can win the tight games as well as the free-wheeling shootouts, and that style poses a challenge to the Hawks and their defense. We can’t say the Lightning are inexperienced at this point, winning three series with two in a game seven. The Hawks will play a possession game, create more chances and get a win.
Chicago 5, Tampa Bay 3
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 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning will commence on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 8 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
