2015 Stanley Cup Finals Betting Odds – Game 3

Carrie Stroup here with your 2015 Stanley Cup Finals betting odds for Game 3

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (63-33-8) at CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (61-33-7)                 

Stanley Cup Finals Game 3

Sportsbook.ag Line: Tampa Bay +150, Chicago -170, Total: 5.5

The Blackhawks look to take a 2-1 series lead when they host the Lightning in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday.

After a Game 1 that didn’t feature a ton of action, things opened up a bit for both teams in Game 2. The Lightning ended up winning 4-3 despite being outshot 29-24, but the Blackhawks took back home-ice advantage with their win in Game 1. Tampa Bay is 4-2 both SU and ATS when facing Chicago over the past three seasons. The Lightning are, however, just 5-8 both SU and ATS when playing the Blackhawks at United Center since 1996.

One thing that the Lightning can feel good about is the fact that they are 21-5 ATS after a home game where both teams score three or more goals over the past two seasons. They are also 26-8 ATS when playing only their second game in five days this season.

Chicago, meanwhile, is 15-3 ATS in home games as a #3 seed in the playoffs over the past two seasons. The Blackhawks also get to face a Lightning team that is just 7-14 ATS in road games after scoring four or more goals in their previous game this season.

G Ben Bishop (Lower Body) got injured in Game 2 and was unable to finish out the game. He is questionable for the Lightning on Monday. D Trevor Van Riemsdyk (Wrist) is questionable for the Blackhawks.

The Lightning evened up the series with a win on Saturday and G Andrei Vasilevskiy (1-0, 4.43 GAA, 89.5% SV% in playoffs) picked up the win after G Ben Bishop (12-9, 2.20 GAA, 91.8% SV% in playoffs) hurt his knee late in Game 2. Bishop is expected to return to the net on Monday, but whoever is out there will need to be better in Game 3.

C Tyler Johnson (13 G, 9 A, 22 PTS in playoffs) scored a goal for the Lightning. It was his first goal in five games and he’ll need to continue to be a menace offensively for Tampa Bay. He has been a stud in these playoffs and the team needs him to keep it up in order to steal back a win in Chicago.

RW Nikita Kucherov (10 G, 11 A, 21 PTS in playoffs) had a goal and an assist in Game 2. Kucherov was all over the ice and is just one point behind Johnson for the league lead in points this postseason.

C Steven Stamkos (7 G, 10 A, 17 PTS in playoffs) is still yet to score in this series. His team will be counting on him to snap out of this slump soon and he could really help the Lightning if he were to get on the board in Game 3.

Ds Victor Hedman (1 G, 11 A, 12 PTS in playoffs) and Anton Stralman (1 G, 7 A, 8 PTS in playoffs) must continue to be sturdy along the blue line in this series. They have been very solid defensively and also generate pressure in the offensive end and that must continue the rest of the way.

LW Teuvo Teravainen (4 G, 5 A, 9 PTS in playoffs) stayed hot despite the Blackhawks losing in Game 2, scoring his second goal of the series. He has really come through at the right time for Chicago and the team will need him to continue to play well offensively.

D Brent Seabrook (7 G, 4 A, 11 PTS in playoffs) had a goal in the game as well, and he now has four points over the past five games. The Blackhawks need production from their blue line and Seabrook has provided that in the postseason.

Some guys that really need to step up for Chicago are RW Patrick Kane (10 G, 10 A, 20 PTS in playoffs) and C Jonathan Toews (9 G, 10 A, 19 PTS in playoffs), who have not scored for their team in this series. Toews did have an assist in Game 2, but both of these guys are counted on to score goals and have not done so in the biggest series of the year.

G Corey Crawford (10-5, 2.56 GAA, 91.6% SV% in playoffs) must be better in Game 3. He let up four goals on 24 shots in Game 2 and that type of performance will not give his team much of a chance to win moving forward.