Welcome to the Stanley Cup Final where the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning will fight for the right to hoist the prestigious Lord Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks have won two of the last five Stanley Cup finals and will be gunning for their third since 2010. The Lightning, on the other hand, are eyeing to take home the Cup for just the second time in franchise history. Which team will strike first? Read on for a full preview of this game. You can also click here for an in-depth look at Game 1 of Cavs vs. Warriors over at the NBA.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1 Preview
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
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
This Blackhawks team isn’t a stranger when it comes to playing in the final. Chicago’s core consisting of the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Duncan Keith are been-there-done-that type of players, who were all there when Chicago took home the Cup in 2010 and in 2013. With experience on their side, the ‘Hawks will rely on their vets to lead them to a road victory in Game 1. The Blackhawks are 5-2 in their last seven games away from Windy City.
[sc:NHL240 ]At the forefront of Chicago’s attack is team captain Jonathan Toews, who’s walked the talk in the Western Conference final. In that round, Toews scored five goals, including two in Game 7, to up his playoff total to nine goals and 18 points. Toews, however, isn’t the only scoring threat in Chicago’s first line that the Bolts have to worry about, as Hossa (four goals, nine assists this postseason) has seemingly found his scoring touch down the stretch of the Anaheim series. Hossa scored a goal in Game 6 and Game 7 of that series.
Then there’s Kane, who’s been terrifying Chicago’s opponents throughout the playoffs. Kane enters Game 1 against Tampa Bay with team-leading numbers of 10 goals and 20 assists this postseason. Matched up against Tampa Bay’s Triplet Line, Kane and the rest of the ‘Hawks’ second line will have to continue their scoring production to counter the trio of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov. Expect coach Joel Quenneville to play Kane alongside Toews in the first line, though, just as he did over the last four games of the Western Conference final. Chicago is averaging 3.29 goals per game thus far in these playoffs.
But for all the talents of Chicago’s forwards, defenseman Duncan Keith might just be the biggest difference-maker in the series. Keith has been playing insane minutes these playoffs, while also being ultra-effective on both ends of the ice. In fact, he paces all skaters this postseason in plus/minus (+13) and is second in assists (16). Keith’s defense should be of big help to goalie Corey Crawford, who’s been inconsistent this season. That being said, Crawford’s experience is what gives him an advantage over Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop. Crawford, who was Chicago’s goalie in its 2013 Cup run, is 9-4 with a 2.56 GAA and .919 SV% thus far this postseason.
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Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts are bringing their electrifying offense into the sport’s biggest stage. Thanks in large part to their ability to flummox opponents with a barrage of goals, the Lightning have secured just their second final appearance, and will be playing Game 1 at home. The Lightning are 4-0 in their last four home games against Chicago.
What the Lightning lack in experience they make up for with a tremendous offense that is led by the ever lethal Steven Stamkos. Stamkos finished the regular season with 43 goals, second most in the league. It took time for Stamkos to find his deadly form in these playoffs, but once he got going against Montreal in the conference semis, there was no looking back for the Lightning superstar. Since the start of the second round, Stamkos has collected 14 points, including four goals in the conference final against the Rangers. Stamkos aside, the speed and scoring ability of Tampa Bay’s second line is one that will certainly give Chicago’s defense fits.
Palat, Johnson, and Kucherov have driven netminders Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist in the previous rounds nuts. Even these all-world goalies looked helpless against the trio that has combined for 28 goals and 27 assists this postseason. Up against a lesser caliber goalie in Chicago’s Crawford, expect the Triplet Line to put the pedal to the metal right from the get-go in the final. The same three players lead the Lightning in power play goals with Palat netting four goals on the man advantage, while Kucherov and Johnson have three and two, respectively. Tampa Bay’s special teams hold better numbers than Chicago entering Game 1 of the series. The Lightning’s power play during the postseason is fourth overall with a 22.2 percent conversion rate. Their penalty kill, meanwhile, is at 81.2%—eighth best these playoffs.
Between the pipes for Tampa Bay is Ben Bishop, a goalie who hasn’t played in a single playoff game prior to this season. That said, Bishop has held his own in the past three rounds. So far this postseason, Bishop has a record of 12-8 with a 2.15 GAA and .920 SV%.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago (EVEN) wins Game 1, 4-3. Chicago also wins the series in six games.
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