Lightning fans must be smiling after their team regained home ice advantage against a vaunted home team in Chicago. But the Blackhawks can’t be counted out with their loaded roster and championship pedigree. Can the younger Lightning squad get another big win on the road? Read on as the experts sound off on their Game 4 picks.
Dig deeper into this crucial game at United Center. Check out the complete preview for the Lightning vs. Blackhawks Game 4.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game 4 Expert Picks and Predictions
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 –June 3 — Chicago Blackhawks 2 at Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Game 2 – June 6 —Chicago Blackhawks 3 at Tampa Bay Lightning 4
Game 3 – June 8 –Tampa Bay Lightning 3 at Chicago Blackhawks 2
Game 4 – June 10, 8:00 PM ET –Tampa Bay Lightning (+155) at Chicago Blackhawks (-175); total: 5.5 – view all NHL lines
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
Rant Sports
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Seth Lassen | Blackhawks 3-2 (OT) |
Seth Lassen of Rant Sports wasted no time in getting his prediction for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals out there. He notes that the Blackhawks played well in Game 3, but fell just short of taking a series lead. The next game, also in Chicago, will be huge for Joel Quenneville’s team. They can’t afford to fall behind three games to one with two more games to play in Tampa Bay.
[sc:NHL240 ]If the Blackhawks are to even the series, they’ll need their superstars to play like the superstars that they are. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have failed to score in each of the first three games of the series. They combined for just one point, a Toews assist in Game 2, in the series. But Lassen thinks it’s too far-fetched for the two to remain without a goal for the fourth consecutive game in the Stanley Cup finals.
The Lightning will be brimming with confidence after winning two straight. But the Blackhawks should have enough quality to eke out a close victory, 3-2 in overtime.
Top Bet
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Top Bet | Blackhawks |
Top Bet is also one of the first sites to make a prediction for Game 4 of the incredible Stanley Cup finals. We noted that the two sides are led by amazing games by their defensemen.
Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman was incredible in Game 3, finishing with two assists and keeping Toews and Kane scoreless en route to a 3-2 victory. Having a slick playmaker like Hedman should be advantageous to the Lightning’s incredible offense. The Triplets line was especially dangerous with Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson all getting a point in Game 3.
On the other side of the rink, blue-liner Duncan Keith may be the X-factor Chicago needs to even the series. Keith leads the postseason with 18 assists and a plus/minus of plus-14. The veteran defenseman should be able to create some scoring chances against Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop, who doesn’t look too comfortable with his lateral movement after suffering a setback in Game 3.
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Bleacher Report
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Andrew Gould | Blackhawks 3-2 |
Andrew Gould of Bleacher Report notes that Chicago has challenged Tampa Bay’s Bishop more in the series. The Blackhawks have outshot the Lightning 88-79 in the series. It’s also worth mentioning that Bishop looked quite uncomfortable between the pipes in Game 3, leading to speculations of an injury. But the Blackhawks’ superstars in Toews and Kane are yet to really take over games in this series, which has allowed Tampa Bay to get by with a gimpy Bishop between the pipes.
Duncan Keith has been spectacular, though, becoming the first defenseman since Chirs Pronger in 2006 to have a 20-point postseason performance. He should have what it takes to get Chicago’s stars going en route to a 3-2 victory in Game 4.
Covers
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Covers | Blackhawks 5-2 |
Covers believes that a blowout is due in this series after three one-goal games. As Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook notes, “[the Blackhakws] play [their] best when [their] backs are against the wall.” Covers believes that Keith will shoulder the load for Chicago’s offense in Game 4, leading the postseason with 18 assists. If Toews and Kane are to find the back of the net, expect Keith to play a huge role in their performances.
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