Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Stanley Cup Odds, Betting Stats

The Chicago Blackhawks will start the Stanley Cup Final on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night, but they are still listed as the 20-29 favorites to win the championship this spring at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

Chicago was favored in each of its other two recent Stanley Cup Final appearances as well, and it just won its biggest game of the postseason on the road with a 5-3 victory against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final last Saturday.

The Blackhawks rallied to win the last two games of that series after trailing 3-2, and they are an impressive 5-4 away from home in this year’s playoffs, according to the Odds Shark NHL Database, including two series-clinching wins.

The Lightning are 5-4 underdogs to win the series and are also coming off of a Game 7 road victory in the Eastern Conference Final. Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop posted a 2-0 shutout at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 last Friday following a nearly identical performance there in Game 5 of the series five days earlier.

Bishop was outstanding on the road in that series, surrendering just four goals combined in four games, but he struggled at home with the Rangers, winning two of three games at Amalie Arena by a combined score of 17-10.

Tampa Bay is just 5-5 in 10 home games overall this postseason heading into Game 1 of the Blackhawks vs. Lightning betting matchup, as opponents have won at least once there in every series so far and twice in the first and last rounds.

Chicago has been tough at home in the playoffs with a 7-1 mark, with the lone loss taking place in Game 3 against the Ducks by a 2-1 score following the team’s 3-2 triple overtime victory in Game 2.

Tampa Bay has enjoyed a lot of recent success in the head-to-head matchup with Chicago. The Lightning have won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams dating back to 2011, including two at the United Center and four times as underdogs.