Stanley Cup Finals Odds – Game 5: Blackhawks-Lightning
Carrie Stroup here with your Stanley Cup Finals odds for Game 5. The series is currently evened up.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (62-34-7) at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (64-34-8)
Stanley Cup Finals Game 5:
Sportsbook.ag Line: Chicago +100, Tampa Bay -120, Total: 5.5
The Lightning look to regain the lead in this series with a home win over the Blackhawks in Game 5 Saturday.
The Blackhawks played with a sense of desperation in Game 4 and it paid off as they beat the Lightning 2-1 to even up the series. Both teams really locked things up defensively, as there was only a combined 44 shots on goal in the game. Most of Tampa Bay’s came in the final two minutes with the goalie pulled as well. Even with the loss for the Lightning, the team is still 7-3 SU in its past 10 games against the Blackhawks. Tampa Bay is also 5-1 SU when playing Chicago at Amalie Arena in the past six meetings. Two straight games and three of the four games played in this series have gone Under the total.
The Blackhawks are 15-6 ATS in road games when playing only their second game in five days this season. The Lightning, however, are 27-8 ATS in that situation on the year. They are also 14-3 ATS after scoring one goal or less in their previous game this season.
One thing to monitor heading into this game is the health of G Ben Bishop (Lower Body). Bishop got hurt in Game 2 and played with pain in Game 3 before sitting out in the most recent matchup. He is questionable heading into this one.
The Blackhawks were able to even the series up with a 2-1 win on Wednesday and a lot of that had to do with RW Patrick Kane (10 G, 11 A, 21 PTS in playoffs) and C Jonathan Toews (10 G, 10 A, 20 PTS in playoffs) stepping up. Both players had been struggling in this series, with Toews not finding the back of the net and Kane not recording a single point heading into Game 4. That changed as Toews scored a goal that broke the 0-0 tie in the second period and Kane assisted on the game-winning score. The two of them will need to keep it up offensively or the Lightning will easily take control of this series right back.
LW Brandon Saad (8 G, 2 A, 10 PTS in playoffs) was the one who scored the game-winner and he now has scored goals in back-to-back games. His play in this series has really boosted his team.
The hero of Game 4, however, was G Corey Crawford (11-6, 2.50 GAA, 91.8% SV% in playoffs). Crawford stopped all but one of the 25 shots he faced and gave his team a chance to win in what was a slugfest of a game. After allowing seven goals in the previous two games, Crawford looked calm in the net and will need to give his team another chance on Saturday.
The Lightning were unable to take a commanding 3-1 lead thanks to their 2-1 loss in Chicago in Game 4. G Andrei Vasilevskiy (1-1, 3.19 GAA, 89.5% SV% in playoffs) performed admirably in place of G Ben Bishop (13-9, 2.19 GAA, 91.9% SV% in playoffs), allowing just two goals in a big spot. The Lightning, however, will really be hoping that Bishop can play on Saturday. He has more experience and is a much better puck-handling presence.
C Alex Killorn (9 G, 9 A, 18 PTS in playoffs) continued his ridiculous offensive play in this postseason, scoring the only goal for Tampa Bay. It was his second of the series and he scored four against the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The story for the Lightning, however, is the poor play of C Steven Stamkos (7 G, 11 A, 18 PTS in playoffs). Stamkos recorded the assist on Killorn’s goal, but he is on this team to score goals and has failed in this series. He has not scored in this series and has just two shots on goal in each of the past three games for Tampa Bay. He must find a way to break out of this slump or the Blackhawks will be lifting the trophy when all is said and done.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
