Monday, June 8, 2015

Stanley Cup Finals - Game 3

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the United Center in Chicago. The series is tied 1-1 after the Blackhawks split the first 2 games in Tampa Bay. The opening line has Chicago at -149 and Tampa Bay at +135. The over/under has been set at 5 in this pivotal Game 3.

The Lightning responded in Game 2 against the Blackhawks to win 4-3 after their Game 1 loss. The game was a back and forth affair that featured Ben Bishop getting the hook in the 3rd period for 20 year old phenom Andrei Vasilevskiy. He responded with 5 saves in 5 chances as Tampa held on despite some late attempts by Chicago in the last 5 minutes. Tampa started the game with a goal to go up 1-0 after a lot of time in the Chicago zone. The Hawks responded with 2 quick goals in the 2nd period to take a 2-1 lead, and it felt like Game 1 all over again. But the resilient Lightning responded with 2 goals of their own to eventually take a 3-2 lead. After Chicago tied the game at 3 in the 3rd period, Tampa responded with the game winning goal at the 11:11 mark of the 3rd period.

"I've said this many times, this team, we're learning the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the job. I think what happened to us the other night was a lesson learned," said Tampa coach Jon Cooper after the game. "It's the first time that it happened to us in the playoffs. So what are we going to do about that? Put in that position again, what do you do? That position happened midway through the game when we had the 1-0 lead. There go the two quick goals, it's 2-1. Our guys wouldn't be denied."

For the Blackhawks, they received goals from Andrei Vasilevskiy, Brent Seabrook, and Teuvo Teravainen. Tampa got their goals from Jason Garrison, Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, and Cedric Paquette. Corey Crawford had 20 saves in 24 chances for Chicago while Ben Bishop had 21 saves in 24 chances on Saturday night for the Lightning.

The Lightning are 4-0 in their last 4 Monday games and are 8-2 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. They are 7-2 in their last 9 road games and are 11-4 in their last 15 games playing on 1 days rest. Tampa is 1-5 in their last 6 games following a win and the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest. The under is 4-1 in Tampa's last 5 road games and is 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. The over is 35-17-3 in their last 55 Monday games.

The Blackhawks are 4-1 in their last 5 Stanley Cup Finals games and are 7-2 in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest. They are 49-18 in their last 67 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and are 33-13 in their last 46 Monday games. Chicago is 10-4 in their last 14 overall and are 93-41 in their last 134 home games. The Blackhawks are 20-9 in their last 29 vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and are 13-6 in their last 19 vs. Atlantic. The over is 5-1 in the Blackhawks last 6 overall and is 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The over is also 4-1-1 in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest and is 4-1-1 in their last 6 home games.

In head to head matchups, the under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago and the home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. The Lightning are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings and are 3-8 in the last 11 meetings in Chicago.

Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends

Chicago Blackhawks are 61-40-0 Against the Spread

Chicago Blackhawks are 38-48-0 against the Over/Under

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Lightning are 63-41-0 Against the Spread

Tampa Bay Lightning are 53-46-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Blackhawks

06/06/15 D Trevor Van Riemsdyk Wrist Questionable Monday vs. Tampa Bay
05/08/15 D Michal Rozsival Ankle out for season

Tampa Bay Lightning

10/06/14 D Mattias Ohlund Knee out indefinitely
06/06/15 GO Ben Bishop Lower Body left last game, Questionable Monday vs. Chicago

Josh's Pick: Take Chicago

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