Monday, June 15, 2015

Stanley Cup Finals - Game 6

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Tampa Bay Lightning will visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blackhawks lead the series 3-2 giving them a chance to take the Cup at home for the first time since April 12, 1938. The opening line has Chicago at -169 and Tampa Bay at +149. The over/under has been set at 5.5 in this pivotal Game 6.

Game 5 was a battle from the start. Ben Bishop was back in the net for the Lightning after missing Game 4 due to an injury and the Blackhawks made him work early by putting shots on goal immediately unlike in Game 3. Both goalies had their miscues early and it ended up costing one of them. Corey Crawford came out of net to play a puck early and turned it over to Nikita Kucherov who narrowly missed the goal and ended up hurting himself on the play. Kucherov would sit the rest of this one out and the Blackhawks got out of that situation unscathed. The Lightning weren't as fortunate as Bishop collided with Victor Hedman coming out to play a long pass leaving a wide open net for Patrick Sharp to put the Blackhawks up 1-0 in this first period and gave Sharp his first goal in nearly six weeks of hockey.

Tampa Bay came back in the second period like their hair was on fire. They pressured the Blackhawks from the beginning of the period until the end and topped it off with a goal at the 10:53 mark from Valtteri Filppula. Jason Garrison and Anton Stralman assisted on a pretty play that tied this one back up and gave the Lightning some momentum going into the third period.

It was all Tampa Bay at the beginning of the third as they continued where they left off in the second period. However, the Blackhawks were able to steal back some of that momentum in this period. Kris Versteeg had a nice shot on goal on the rush but was turned away by Bishop. Antoine Vermette picked up the rebound and put it the back of the net to put Chicago up 2-1 at the 2:00 mark. After that, it was all Corey Crawford who, unlike last game, was able to withstand the heavy pressure Tampa Bay was putting on for the rest of that period. He finished out this game for Chicago and got them one game away from holding Lord Stanley's Cup. Crawford ended the game with 31 saves while Bishop finished with 27 saves.

The series will continue in Chicago on Monday night as the Blackhawks will be looking for their third Stanley Cup in the last six years.

The Lightning are 4-1 in their last 5 road games and 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. They are 12-5 in their last 17 games playing on 1 day rest and 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. The under is 4-0 in the Lightning's last 4 road games and 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

The Blackhawks are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 8-3 in their last 11 games playing on 1 day rest. They are 49-19 in their last 68 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. The under is 4-1 in the Blackhawks last 5 overall and 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.

Head to head, the under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Chicago and 6-1 in the last 7 meetings. The Lightning are 4-9 in the last 13 meetings in Chicago.

Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends

Chicago Blackhawks are 63-41-0 Against the Spread

Chicago Blackhawks are 38-51-0 against the Over/Under

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Lightning are 64-43-0 Against the Spread

Tampa Bay Lightning are 53-49-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Blackhawks

05/08/15 D Michal Rozsival Ankle out for season

Tampa Bay Lightning

10/06/14 D Mattias Ohlund Knee out indefinitely
06/13/15 RW Nikita Kucherov Shoulder injured last game, Questionable Monday vs. Chicago

Josh's Pick: Take Chicago

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