Early Storylines to Watch in 2015 Stanley Cup Final

We're finally here. After two conference finals that each went the seven-game distance with the road teams winning both (giving road clubs a 2-3 record in seventh games in these playoffs), we have our Stanley Cup Final matchup: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Blackhawks are the pick of Vegas oddsmakers, per Odds Shark, and why not? This is their third trip to the Final in the last six years, and they won the previous two. They have arguably the NHL's best clutch player in modern history in captain Jonathan Toews, who burnished those credentials further with his play in Games 5-7 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks.

But overlook this Tampa Bay team at your own peril. This isn't its first rodeo against an Original Six team. In fact, the Lightning have vanquished three such storied franchises already in the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers.

They were the NHL's leading-scoring team of the regular season (259 goals), and their defense is better than many people know. In fact, Tampa Bay is allowing an average of 2.45 goals per game in the playoffs, lower than Chicago's 2.94.

Tampa Bay gained three of four points in two meetings with the Blackhawks in the regular season, losing a shootout at United Center and blanking Chicago 4-0 in a late-February game at Amalie Arena.

Read on for a glimpse at six of the top storylines this series has in store. 

Youth vs. Experience: Will It Make a Difference?

Frank Franklin/Associated Press

At an average of 26.3 years old, the Lightning were the youngest team of any of the 16 starting the playoffs. And the oldest? Those were the Blackhawks, at an average age of 29.4. 

Will 3.1 years of youth make a difference in a best-of-seven match for the Cup? It's hard to believe it will, especially when we're talking about these Blackhawks. Yeah, there is age around the edges; Brad Richards and Marian Hossa—two of Chicago's top-six forwards—are 35 and 36, respectively. Patrick Sharp is 33, and Antoine Vermette 32. 

Yet, Chicago's two best forwards, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, are 27 and 26, respectively. 

Tampa Bay's oldest player, 36-year-old Brenden Morrow, plays only depth minutes. It's a young, fast group of forwards, led by star Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay's youth and speed have given every opponent trouble to this point, but Chicago has just as much, if not more, speed and skill, despite its slightly older legs.

That said, Tampa Bay's speed has given major problems to all its opponents. Could Chicago, with its age and depth issues on defense, be another victim? Sure it could. But probably wise not to bet the ranch on that.

Jonathan Toews vs. Steven Stamkos: Who's Got the Edge?

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Look, there's just no way anyone can pick against the magnificent Captain Serious of the Blackhawks. With two Stanley Cup rings and two Olympic gold medals already to his name, at still just 27, Toews is hockey's ultimate leader and winner.

Yet, he will get another strong challenge at center from Lightning captain Stamkos, who possesses many of the same leadership qualities as Toews. 

Stamkos persevered through a slow start to the playoffs with the media all over him, and has consistently gotten better as the games have gotten bigger. He has scored one goal in six of his last nine games. Toews has five goals in his last four games. 

Toews' history obviously gives him the edge on Stamkos. But they've never faced each other in a playoff series, and it would be foolish to think Stamkos isn't capable of outplaying him in a handful of games.

Will Joel Quenneville Keep Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on the Same Line?

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The preferred method of Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is to keep Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on separate lines so opponents can't just zero in on them with their best checking line and/or top two on defense. 

But when times got desperate for the Blackhawks, starting with the late stages of Game 5 in Anaheim, Coach Q put Toews and Kane together. How did that work out? Not too bad.

Toews immediately scored two goals in the final two minutes that sent Game 5 to OT. He scored two more in Game 7, while Kane posted a goal and four assists in those final two games. The third member of that line, Brandon Saad, scored a goal in each of the final two games.

It might seem a no-brainer to keep Toews and Kane together to start the Final, but it won't shock anyone if Quenneville wants to start things with his preferred, more balanced line combinations. But it has to be a nice feeling for him and Hawks fans that he has the nuclear option available to him anytime he wants.

As Duncan Keith told Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times:

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There’s no two guys I’d rather have on my team coming into a big game. They have that ability to rise to the occasion and just find a way no matter what. You know they’re going to get it done. They’re going to find a way. I think that rubs off on a lot of guys.

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Can Tampa Bay's 'Triplets' Line Keep Producing?

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Center Tyler Johnson (12 goals, nine assists), right wing Nikita Kucherov (9-10-19) and left winger Ondrej Palat (7-8-15) know each other's tendencies so much, coach Jon Cooper said, that they are like "triplets." It didn't take long for that nickname to stick.

No team has been able to shut the trio down. Then again, it hasn't faced a defense featuring the NHL's version of the Energizer Bunny, Duncan Keith. 

The 5'9" Johnson is a leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy, while Kucherov isn't far behind. The line is fast, skilled and tougher than people might think.

Former Detroit coach Mike Babcock summed up what it was like to match up against the Triplets line during the first round, telling the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith: 

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They're all high, high-end skill. Good determination, good defensively. Palat is a heavy body who gets turnovers all the time from behind, from the front. Kucherov shoots the puck off the pass as good as anyone. They're really good players.

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Ben Bishop vs. Corey Crawford: Who Has the Edge?

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Both Ben Bishop and Corey Crawford have been alternately lionized and criticized in these playoffs.

Crawford, in fact, lost his starting job early in the first round to backup Scott Darling. That was obviously just the wake-up call he needed, as he's generally been good since. Crawford made some huge stops after Anaheim cut a 3-0 deficit to one goal in Game 6 and had an easy time of it in Game 7 thanks to three straight goals from his teammates early on.

Bishop, too, has been criticized after some erratic performances, particularly after being porous in a 7-3 loss to the Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Final. But then Bishop went and outplayed Henrik Lundqvist in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, with a 22-save shutout.

Bishop became the first goalie in NHL history to post shutouts in the first two Games 7s of his career. Lightning coach Jon Cooper likely wouldn't complain if told his team will have a chance to play a Game 7 at home in this series. 

But he's probably hoping Bishop can be a bit better in the earlier games to prevent it from going that far. Against Chicago, that most definitely will not be easy.

Can Aging Brad Richards Summon 1 More Good Series Against His Old Team?

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It's been a while, but there was a time when Brad Richards was the toast of Tampa. 

In 2004, Richards won the Conn Smythe Trophy in leading the Lightning to the Stanley Cup in a seven-game series win over Calgary. It seemed preposterous that Richards might leave the Lightning, at least not for a good, long time. But by 2008, he was playing with the Dallas Stars and has played for two other teams since.

It has been tempting to call Richards the possible weak link on the Blackhawks. As a 35-year-old second-line forward, he clearly does not have the same speed of his earlier days, so on paper it could be a tough matchup against the young "Triplets" line of the Lightning.

But Richards has not been a weak link to this point for Chicago. He posted points in six of the seven games against Anaheim, including two assists in Game 7. He's still a tremendous passer and a nice guy to have along the half-boards on the power play. 

As Yahoo's Josh Cooper correctly observed, Richards has been a good fit with the Blackhawks, despite numerous doubters to start the year. 

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Richards hasn’t needed to be ‘the’ guy for Chicago this season. He just had a role as a second-line center. He filled it. He was productive, and he wasn’t a distraction, like in years past where his mega-contract and lack of usage with the Rangers in the playoffs was always a question.

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This will be Richards' third trip to the Final as a player, including last season with the Rangers. The veteran acknowledged to Yahoo's Cooper that it will be special playing against the team that drafted him and where he made his bones as a player.

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There’s going to be a lot of different feelings. It will be a special … I grew up as a player and as an adult human being there. A lot of great friends still, and the organization … very happy it’s back on track and doing what they’re doing down there. It’s going to be special, but I want to win one. We’ll worry about friendships later.

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