Stanley Cup 2015: Lightning vs. Blackhawks NBC TV Schedule and Odds Guide

A couple of Stanley Cup Final series in recent years have become snoozers, but the 2015 series between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning doesn't appear headed down that track. With a one-goal margin separating the sides in each of the first three games, these stylistically similar squads appear primed for a long series.  

Though the Hawks were the betting favorite headed into the series, Tampa Bay has been tied or ahead for all but 12 minutes this series. Even with goaltender Ben Bishop clearly banged up, the Lightning's deep cavalcade of two-way forwards has stretched the Blackhawks more than many expected headed into the series.

Laying out the series TV schedule and Game 4 odds, let's take a look at a burning question each team must answer over the final four games to take home the Cup.

Game	Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV (U.S.)
4	Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks	June 10	8 p.m.	NBCSN
5	Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning	June 13	8 p.m.	NBC
6	Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks (if necessary)	June 15	8 p.m.	NBC
7	Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning (if necessary)	June 17	8 p.m.	NBC

Team	Moneyline	Spread
Tampa Bay	7-5	+1.5
Chicago	20-31	-1.5

How Will the Blackhawks Handle the First Line?

In the Western Conference Final, the Hawks turned a 2-1 deficit around by placing Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on the top line together from Games 5 to 7. Chicago scored 14 goals over the final three games and kept Kane and Toews together for the first two games against Tampa, but it ended up splitting things up in Game 3.

The logic seemed sound. The Lightning's third line had done wonders shutting down Chicago's top stars, so Joel Quenneville took the opportunity to throw a curveball at Tampa Bay, as the Chicago Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom describes:

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Joel Quenneville immediately used his home-ice advantage of the last change to get Jonathan Toews away from the Paquette line and Hedman and defense partner Anton Stralman.

The Hawks coach had to do something to give Toews a better chance to score. Same goes for Kane, depending how the Lightning wanted to play their tenacious checking and top defensive pairing.

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However, neither Kane nor Toews has scored yet this series, despite Toews playing the majority of his shifts away from Tampa's top defensive pairing. In fact, Kane didn't make a dent beyond the first period in Game 3 and has generally been a nonexistent offensive threat the past two games:

A one-game switch is hardly proof of a definitive pattern, but the Hawks don't have time to wait around. Quenneville's decision on how to utilize Kane and Toews will be a big pregame storyline to watch, but it's up to the two All-Stars to take over shifts to boost Chicago's offense and possession time in general.

Are Tampa's Defensemen the Series Difference-Makers?

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The Lightning's speed and puck movement were the focal point headed into the Final, but with Steven Stamkos held scoreless thus far, it's been the top defense pairing that has made the biggest difference. Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman are a combined plus-two despite taking on the toughest assignments, a surprising net-plus that has shifted this series in Tampa's favor.

Hedman was the most valuable player of Game 3, setting up a pair of goals with his three-line stretch pass to Ryan Callahan and assist on Cedric Paquette's game-winner in the third period. Lightning assistant GM Pat Verbeek relayed how coach Jon Cooper has encouraged Hedman to become more involved in the offensive zone, per ESPN's Craig Custance: 

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Coop has really encouraged him to get up into the rush and be an offensive guy from behind...With his skating ability, he’s able to do that. Not a lot of defensemen in this league can do that. [Erik] Karlsson is one in Ottawa. Keith is one here. There’s not many -- there might be five in the whole league who can do what he can do, be able to join the rush and be the first guy back to defend.

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The veteran Hedman has been a top-line fixture for some time, but his partner Stralman has actually been one of the better shot repressors the past three seasons. His performance in this series has now brought some impressive line numbers to the limelight:

Stralman and Hedman will continue to see the vast majority of their minutes come against Kane and Toews. Much of the attention surrounding Tampa will hone in on Bishop's health and Stamkos' lack of scoring, but these two are the underrated X-factors that could play an equally large role in determining whether Tampa can capture its second Cup in franchise history.