Stanley Cup 2015: Blackhawks vs. Lightning Game 2 Odds, Final Score Prediction

We're at Game 2 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, which already has the feel of the Tampa Bay Lightning preparing to make a last stand. 

While dropping the first game of a series is not dooming, dropping the first two, especially at home, just about is. 

Teams that have won Game 1 have gone on to win the Cup 54 of 69 times. When winning the first two games, they have hoisted the Cup on 41 of 44 occasions.

Needless to say, the Blackhawks will be feeling pretty good if they are able to take the first two games in Tampa Bay.

Puck drop for Game 2 is at 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday and can be viewed on NBC.

Odds are in Tampa's favor

According to Odds Shark, the Lightning are 4-5 favorites to take Game 2, even though they have not been the strongest home team in the playoffs. In 11 home games this postseason, the Lightning are 5-6 compared to their 7-3 road record.

The last team to lose Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final and go on to win the series was the 2011 Boston Bruins against the Vancouver Canucks.

Triple Threat

Of the 55 goals the Lightning have scored during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, 45 of them have been scored by forwards.

One line accounts for more than half of those 45 goals. 

The Triplets line of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat has accounted for 28 goals this postseason, leading a Tampa Bay offense that has a guy named Steven Stamkos on it.

Johnson leads the team and the league during the playoffs with 12 goals and 21 points. Kucherov ranks second on the team with nine goals and fourth in the league with 19 points. Rounding out the group, Palat has scored seven goals and added eight assists for 15 points. 

They're young too. Johnson and Palat are 24 years old and Kucherov is just 21. This core is developing with Stamkos and has the potential to be together for a very long time.

Don't Forget About Kane

Sure, the Lightning's young core might be stealing the headlines, but the Blackhawks continue to find ways to get it done.

Look no further than Patrick Kane. After suffering a clavicle injury that should have sidelined him for the remainder of the season back in February, he made a beyond speedy recovery and joined the team for its first-round matchup against the Nashville Predators.

Since then, he's been the same old, brilliant Patrick Kane.

In 18 games this postseason, he has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) and should be the front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Blackhawks win this series.

They won't be able to without Kane. Pete Jensen of NHL.com weighed in on what a treat this series is:

4 Is a Crowd

The Blackhawks were able to limit a potent Lightning offense to just one goal in Game 1 despite playing with just four defensemen. 

Since head coach Joel Quenville benched Kimmo Timonen and they lost Michal Rozsival to a broken ankle, it has been heavy lifting for the Blackhawks' D-men.

Quenville called in David Rundblad, a 24-year-old who played in 49 regular-season games and 7:22 in Game 1. He was the more experienced player this season. 

His other option, 28-year-old Kyle Cumiskey, played in just seven games during the regular season. He was on the ice for just 5:01 in Game 1.

Duncan Keith played 29 minutes and Brent Seabrook played 26 to lead the Blackhawks defense. Johnny Oduya added 23 minutes and Niklas Hjalmarsson had 22.

That's an awfully long time to be out on the ice. If this trend keeps up and the series goes to six or seven games, there is a chance there will be some very tired legs out in Chicago's defense. It's up to Quenville to shuffle his blueliners around, so he might have to resort to giving Cumiskey and Rundblad more time on the ice. 

Then again, Chicago is the type of organization that finds ways to win in spite of shortcomings. Look for the Blackhawks to keep their aggressive play intact while still thriving as a solid unit. Ken Campbell of THN.com spoke about the team's defensemen: 

While it's only Game 2 and legs are still fresh after two days off, there won't be much of a stamina issue tonight. 

But Jon Cooper's side is one that will claw its way out of any corner it is put into, so expect that to happen in Game 2.

Stamkos will get on the board, and Johnson might play facilitator more than goal scorer, as he'll try to get the entire cast in on the act. The Lightning will take Game 2 by a score of 4-2.

Stats courtesy of NHL.com