Stanley Cup Final 2015: Blackhawks vs. Lightning Game 2 TV Schedule, Odds, Pick

A furious comeback that saw the Chicago Blackhawks score two goals in two minutes late in the third period gave the Western Conference representatives a huge win in Game 1 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.

Antoine Vermette's top-shelf snipe with 4:34 left in the game, 1:58 after teammate Teuvo Teravainen's leveler, jolted the Tampa Bay Lightning, who looked on course for a 1-0 advantage in the series.

The puck for Game 2 drops Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. ET and can be viewed on on NBC.

Game	Date	Location	Time	TV
2	Saturday, June 6	Tampa Bay	7:15 p.m. ET	NBC
3	Monday, June 8	Chicago	8 p.m. ET	NBCSN
4	Wednesday, June 10	Chicago	8 p.m. ET	NBCSN
5 (if necessary)	Saturday, June 13	Tampa Bay	8 p.m. ET	NBC
6 (if necessary)	Monday, June 15	Chicago	8 p.m. ET	NBC
7 (if necessary)	Wednesday, June 17	Tampa Bay	8 p.m. ET	NBC

Bolts Have the Odds

Odds Shark has the Lightning favored at 4-5 for Game 2 despite the sudden swing of momentum in the Blackhawks' favour. 

Teams that win Game 1 have gone on to win the Stanley Cup 54 of 69 times, according to NHL.com. Being behind going into Game 2 is nothing new for the Lightning, however. Of the three previous playoff series they have been in this season, the Lightning dropped Game 1 twice, to the Detroit Red Wings and to the New York Rangers.

Stammer Time

The Stanley Cup is the time for the biggest names to step up. Game 2 is when winger Steven Stamkos will make his grand entrance. 

After being held goalless in the first round against the Red Wings, Stamkos has scored seven goals in his past 12 games, including a four-game goal streak against the Rangers spanning from Games 2-5 of the Eastern Conference Final. 

While the Blackhawks defense has proved it is one of the best around, there are chinks in the armor. Coming in on the smaller side, the Lightning have the physical advantage against Chicago and will have to start using it if they want Stanley Cup success.

As captain, it's up to Stamkos to help set that tone. He isn't shy about throwing his body around, either.

Of course, pressure on the biggest stage is prominent, and Stamkos has put plenty on himself, as conveyed during his conversation with USA Today's Kevin Allen.

"

I want this so bad. Everyone who knows me knows that. And I will do whatever it takes. I'm competitive at everything I do. Even running up the stairs with my sister as a kid. That was a race. I was competitive. I want to win at everything I do. At the gym, it's who can lift the most weight, who can run the fastest around the track. Softball, golf, everything I do, I want to win.

"

A well-timed hit could do wonders for himself, his teammates and the Amalie Arena.  

While the Cat's Away...

Chicago's defense is one of the best two-way units in hockey. Defensemen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith combined for 76 points during the regular season. And they are not afraid to leave their post.

All too often, one can see Blackhawks defensemen abandoning the blue line in order to join the offensive play deep in the opposing zone. This is when board play and determination become a factor, and both are areas where the Blackhawks have been able to outperform many teams in the past five years.

With their puck-possession prowess, all members of the Blackhawks are afforded the opportunity to be a bit more aggressive in the offensive zone.

This allows defensive awareness to drop off, so this is where the Lightning have to strike to flip this series around.

If the Lightning are able to dispossess the Blackhawks in their zone and develop a counterattack quickly, odd-men rushes will come early and often all series. Gaping holes will be left for the home run passes too, something Tampa Bay can certainly do, even in tight coverage.

Been There, Done That

What the Blackhawks did in Game 1 is no easy feat. Overcoming a one-goal deficit late in the third period in enemy territory against a very good team is not only clutch it's also awe-inspiring. 

But that is what the Blackhawks do. 

Seven players on Chicago's roster are appearing in their third Stanley Cup Final with the team, according to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times. Valtteri Filppula is the lone member of the Lightning to have won a Stanley Cup, which he picked up with Detroit back in 2008.

While the ups and downs will be new for many members of the Lightning, there is a core on the Blackhawks bench that has most likely seen it all.

You can't put a price on experience, and in that department, the Blackhawks are much stronger.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper has proved time and time again that his team's presence in the Stanley Cup Final is no fluke. The new-school Lightning beat three Original Six teams in the Red Wings, Canadiens and Rangers on their way to the Final. 

The quick break will be beneficial for Tampa Bay. While one day off gives them time to think about what slipped away in Game 1, it's short enough that they won't be stewing about it.

Chicago can pool all of the experience it has as much as it wants. The Blackhawks won't be stopping the Lightning in Game 2. Cooper will have his men flying from the start, and there will be a barrage of chances flying at goalie Corey Crawford, who has not looked at his most solid during these playoffs.

Stamkos will take a step in the right direction to net his first goal of the Final as the Lightning win Game 2, 4-2.