Stanley Cup Final Betting Preview
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (64-35-8) at CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (63-34-7)
Stanley Cup Finals Game 6
The Lightning look to keep their season alive in what could be the final game of the Stanley Cup Final in Chicago on Monday.
Sportsbook.ag Line: Tampa Bay +150, Tampa Bay -170, Total: 5
The Lightning had a chance to take a 3-2 series lead when they hosted the Blackhawks in Game 5 on Saturday. Chicago, however, was able to play an excellent game on the road and came away with a 2-1 victory. The Lightning gave it everything they had in that one, outshooting the Blackhawks 32-29 but it just wasn’t enough in the end. They’ll now need to win in Chicago in order to extend the series.
Tampa will not feel too uncomfortable playing at United Center though, as the team has won three of its past five games in Chicago. This Lightning team is mentally strong and possesses the ability to learn from its mistakes. Tampa Bay is 11-0 ATS after losing two straight games this season and there is no bigger time than now for them to show the world why they were able to avoid losing three straight.
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, have an undefeated streak to live up to as well. Chicago is 6-0 ATS in Game 6’s over the past three seasons and will be looking to make that 7-0 with a win Monday night.
RW Nikita Kucherov (Shoulder) is questionable for the Lightning after colliding with the post in Game 5 and the Blackhawks enter this game at close to full strength.
The Lightning gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead in the first period after D Victor Hedman (1 G, 13 A, 14 PTS in playoffs) collided with G Ben Bishop (13-10, 2.18 GAA, 92.0 SV% in playoffs) when he was trying to play the puck away from his net. Chicago scooped up the loose puck and skated in for an empty netter. Mistakes like that can’t happen again if the Lightning are going to even up this series. Bishop, however, played a solid game after returning from his lower body injury. He stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced and one of those was the fluke goal mentioned earlier.
The biggest issue for Tampa Bay in this series is the disappearing of C Steven Stamkos (7 G, 11 A, 18 PTS in playoffs). The Lightning have been waiting for Stamkos to snap out of his goal-less streak and they’ll continue to do so as the series comes to Game 6 on Monday. He will need to find a way to notch his first goal of the Final in an effort to spark his team.
If Stamkos can’t get on the board then C Tyler Johnson (13 G, 10 A, 23 PTS in playoffs) will be relied on even more. Johnson has just one goal in this series and if it weren’t for Stamkos struggling then people would be placing more of the blame on his shoulders. One of these two must find the back of the net or the Lightning will likely be heading home.
One of the biggest question marks over the years for Chicago has been the team’s play between the pipes. G Corey Crawford (12-6, 2.42 GAA, 92.0% SV% in playoffs) hasn’t always been the most reliable goalie, but he has been on fire recently. Over the past two games, Crawford has stopped 55 of the 57 shots he has faced. If he can come through with a similar performance then the Blackhawks will likely be hoisting the trophy on Monday night.
In a game with the stakes that this one has, the Blackhawks will be leaning heavily on C Jonathan Toews (10 G, 11 A, 21 PTS in playoffs) and RW Patrick Kane (10 G, 11 A, 21 PTS in playoffs). Toews had an assist in Game 5 but Kane has been invisible this series. He has not scored a goal yet and has just 11 shots on goal total.
The two of them will need to make their presence felt offensively and Ds Duncan Keith (2 G, 18 A, 20 PTS in playoffs) and Brent Seabrook (7 G, 4 A , 11 PTS in playoffs) will be counted on to be steady along the blue line.
