The grueling playoffs have finally whittled the field down to just two teams, as the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning meet in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. On one hand, the Blackhawks are aiming a third Cup title since 2010. The Lightning, on the other hand, are looking to bag their franchise’s second overall and first since 2004. Which team will have a Cup parade in the end? Let’s look at what the experts think of the outcome of this series.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Expert Picks and Predictions
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 –June 3, 8:00 PM ET— Chicago Blackhawks (EVEN) at Tampa Bay Lightning (-120); total: 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Game 2 – June 6, 7:15 PM ET—Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 3 – June 8, 8:00 PM ET –Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 4 – June 10, 8:00 PM ET –Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 5* – June 13, 8:00 PM ET –Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 6* – June 15, 8:00 PM ET – Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 7* – June 17, 8:00 PM ET – Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning
*If necessary
CBS
| Experts | Pick |
|---|---|
| Chris Peters | Chicago in 6 |
| Adam Gretz | Chicago in 7 |
[sc:NHL240 ]Count the NHL experts pair of Chris Peters and Adam Gretz as among those dying to see the explosive matchup between the Blackhawks and the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. For Peters, he sees a final that features two teams that are almost identical in playing styles, as both Chicago and Tampa Bay have rosters filled with exciting players that can score and make tantalizing plays on the ice. Peters picks the Blackhawks to win in six games, but not before saying that Chicago’s defense worries him. Thus far these playoffs, the ‘Hawks have allowed an average of 2.94 goals per game, fifth highest among 16 postseason teams. That being said, Peters believes that it will all come down to Chicago’s decided advantage in terms of experience.
Gretz, meanwhile, echoes Peters’ sentiments about Chicago’s shaky defense. He’s concerned that fatigue may affect the Blackhawks’ defense, particularly workhorse blue liner, Duncan Keith. Keith has been playing over 31 minutes per game thus far this postseason. Against a speedy group of skaters in Tampa Bay’s fold, it’s understandable why Gretz is doubting whether Chicago has enough gas left to keep up with the Lightning’s younger roster. Gretz, however, sees the tried-and-tested Blackhawks overwhelming the less-experienced Lightning team early in the series. More candidly, Gretz states that he doesn’t like picking against the ‘Hawks at this point of the playoffs because, as he puts it, “that almost always ends poorly.” In the end, Gretz picks Chicago to win in seven games.
Bleacher Report
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Steve Silverman | Chicago in 6 |
Bleacher Report has also boarded the 2015 Stanley Cup Final hype train. Writing as a featured columnist, Steve Silverman published an article on Sunday, wherein he breaks down the series in four key factors: offense, defense, goal tending, and the intangibles. Silverman gives the advantage on offense to Tampa Bay, while giving the rest to Chicago. Silverman notes that Chicago doesn’t have a player with the same scoring ability as Steven Stamkos, who has seven goals and 10 assists thus far this postseason. He also mentions the second line’s ability to score a bundle of goals with breakout Tyler Johnson (21 points this postseason) leading the pack. Silverman ends his analysis by selecting the Blackhawks to raise the Cup in six games. For him, the Blackhawks’ “combination of skill, intelligence, will and experience has provided a winning formula for this team.”
ESPN
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Pierre Lebrun | Chicago in 7 |
As for ESPN’s resident hockey expert Pierre LeBrun, he’s sticking with his preseason pick to win the Cup, which is Chicago. LeBrun, however, doesn’t dismiss the idea that the Lightning might win this series based on how Tampa Bay fared thus far this postseason. Tampa Bay has a young core of deadly scorers that Chicago’s defense should find hard to contain. On the other hand, Chicago has the experience. LeBrun concludes his informative piece, which includes picks from some coaches (all have Chicago winning the Cup) he contacted, by saying that the Blackhawks will win the series in seven games.
Rant Sports
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Seth Lassen | Tampa Bay in 7 |
Contrary to popular opinion, Seth Lassen of Rant Sports is picking Tampa Bay to win it all this year. But like most experts, Lassen believes that the series will be a closely contested one. Lassen doesn’t underestimate Chicago, even recognizing the Blackhawks’ playoff success in the past, but for him, Tampa Bay is simply “playing better hockey right now.” According to Lassen, the depth of the Lightning’s forward will propel the team into winning the series in seven games.
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