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Carrie Stroup here with your 2015 Stanley Cup Finals betting odds courtesy of Sportsbook.ag
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (61-32-7) at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (62-33-8)
Stanley Cup Finals Game 2:
Sportsbook.ag Line: Chicago +110, Tampa Bay -130, Total: 5.0
The Lightning look to even up the series when they host the Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday.
In Game 1, the Lightning struck fast and decided to play cautiously the rest of the way. That did not work for them as they would blow their 1-0 lead and end up losing the game 2-1. They will need to open it up a little bit in Game 2 or they are in great danger of falling behind 2-0 heading into Game 3 in Chicago.
With the victory for the Blackhawks, the team is now 2-1 both SU and ATS against the Lightning on the season. They have split wins both SU and ATS in Tampa Bay as well. The Blackhawks are 15-5 ATS in road games when playing only their second game in five days this season and 13-5 ATS in the playoffs overall. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is 13-3 ATS after two or more consecutive Unders this season. The total has gone Under in three of the past four Lightning games and that could continue if the team continues to try to win games with a defensive mentality.
D Trevor Van Riemsdyk (Wrist) and LW Bryan Bickell (Upper Body) are both questionable for Chicago and Tampa Bay enters this game at close to full strength.
The Blackhawks were able to steal Game 1 in Tampa Bay and G Corey Crawford (10-4, 2.46 GAA, 92.1% SV% in playoffs) played very well. Crawford settled down after allowing an early goal and stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced. He’ll need to continue to be a sturdy presence for his team moving forward.
Offensively it was LW Teuvo Teravainen (3 G, 5 A, 9 PTS in playoffs) who stepped it up for Chicago. He had a goal and an assist in the game and really came through when the Blackhawks were desperate for some firepower. C Antonie Vermette (3 G, 3 A, 6 PTS in playoffs) also scored a goal for the Blackhawks. He has been clutch throughout the postseason, but Chicago will need its usual suspects to get it going in this series.
If RW Patrick Kane (10 G, 10 A, 20 PTS in playoffs), D Duncan Keith (2 G, 17 A, 19 PTS in playoffs) and C Jonathan Toews (9 G, 9 A, 18 PTS in playoffs) are unable to make their marks in this series then it is extremely likely that the Lightning will be hoisting a trophy when it’s all over. These Blackhawks superstars must be aggressive in Game 2, as it’s unlikely that the team will win if they are pointless once again.
The Lightning got off to a fast start on a beautiful goal by C Alex Killorn (8 G, 9 A, 17 PTS in playoffs) in Game 1, but they sat on their lead and were not aggressive enough. This was the most explosive team during the regular season and it will need to try to win games with its fast-paced offense the rest of the way.
One guy who absolutely must show up for the Lightning is C Steven Stamkos (7 G, 10 A, 17 PTS in playoffs). The Lightning captain has just seven shots on goal over the past three games and has really been invisible at times throughout those games. He is one of the most potent goal scorers in the entire NHL and has to find the back of the net at some point. It would give his team a huge boost if he is to find his game in Game 2.
G Ben Bishop (12-9, 2.14 GAA, 91.9% SV% in playoffs) is going to have to be ready to stand on his head in this series. His team seemed perfectly content with playing a defensive oriented game and if that is the case then he will likely have to allow one or less goals moving forward. He was solid in Game 2 and it’s unfair to ask much more of him, as this Lightning offense should be able to provide some more scoring.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
