Blackhawks vs. Bruins: Keys and Predictions for Game 5 in Chicago

Both the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks have proven they belong in the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals.

This has been a duel for the ages, as both teams have battled back and forth, each taking one game away from home.

After the Bruins stifled the Blackhawks in Games 2 and 3, the Blackhawks exploded for six goals in an overtime thriller on Wednesday in Boston.

Now, with the series tied up at two games apiece, what are the keys to victory in Game 5 on Saturday?

Let's take a look.

Style of Play

It's been a joy to watch the two contrasting styles of the Bruins and Blackhawks go at it. The Bruins perform best when they slow down the tempo of the game. The Blackhawks perform best when they speed it up.

What Chicago can do offensively when it's rolling could not have been exemplified better than in Game 4. The Blackhawks took that game in overtime, 6-5, despite the Bruins coming back and tying it three times in regulation. Six different Blackhawks scored in the game.

Of course, we saw how Boston can squeeze Chicago's offense like a vice in Games 2 and 3, when the Bruins won 2-1 and 2-0, respectively.

While Boston's offense has proven to be better in the playoffs than the numbers in the regular season suggested, the Bruins are still not a team that wins a lot of high-scoring games. Boston has to slow the game down in Game 5, which will be mighty difficult in Chicago.

Boston's Physicality

Part of the reason why the Bruins ranked third in the NHL in goals allowed per game during the regular season is because of their physical nature of play. That has been even more evident in the playoffs.

Left wing Milan Lucic leads all players in the playoffs with 93 hits, some of which have been crushing blows.

One of the big things coming into the series was if the Bruins could wear down the Blackhawks. If that is going to happen, you will probably see it begin to happen now, with the series extending beyond at least five games.

The Blackhawks answered the challenge in Game 4 on Wednesday. Headed back to Chicago, Boston will have to impose its will even more, preferably right from the start to get the crowd out of it.

Boston's physicality goes hand-in-hand with its style of play. You can't have one without the other.

Goalie Play

While the Bruins were able to find holes in the wall that is Corey Crawford in Game 4 (i.e. shoot high, glove-hand side), the Blackhawks got through Tuukka Rask after a nightmare spell in Game 3.

After 28 saves in Game 3—following 33 saves in 34 opportunities in Game 2—Rask looked beatable in Game 4, registering a save percentage of 87.2 (his save percentage in the playoffs is 94.1).

It goes without saying that both Crawford and Rask have to be on top of their games against two dynamic offenses, but it's going to be interesting who can settle things down in Game 5 after an offensive barrage in Game 4.

Prediction: Chicago 4, Boston 3 

The Blackhawks found their groove offensively again versus the Bruins in Game 4. With home-ice advantage, expect them to take Game 5 before heading back to Boston. At this point, I'd be surprised if this series doesn't go seven games.