Stanley Cup 2015: Latest Blackhawks vs. Lightning Odds, Predictions After Game 4

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks are all knotted up at two games in a gripping 2015 Stanley Cup Final that is living up to every expectation and then some.

Things have been just about as even as they could possibly be through four games, although shockingly none of them have been pushed to an overtime—yet. The Lightning have 104 shots and the Blackhawks have 107. Both teams have an identical nine goals and, most importantly, two wins.

With that said, nothing that unfolded throughout those opening four contests—other than a mysterious injury to a certain goaltender—has much of a bearing on who will hoist the Stanley Cup. It all comes down to who can execute from here on out, so look below for what oddsmakers expect along with predictions for the rest of the series.

Odds

The Blackhawks reclaimed the series momentum Wednesday night in the United Center, but they weren't the ones who made a lasting impression in the final moments of Game 4. Instead, the Lightning peppered the goal with shot after shot and somehow proved unable to get one of their many golden chances into the net to tie the game.

As the Lightning head back home for Game 5 with home-ice advantage still in hand, though, they're still the presumed favorite to take care of business.

Odds Shark captured the early odds for Saturday's Game 5, with the Lightning having a slight edge:

Spread	Moneyline	Over/Under
Tampa Bay -1.5 (49-20)	TBL 5-6, CHI 1-1	5.5

That's not to say that head coach Jon Cooper and company are still in the driver's seat for the series, however. Now that the Blackhawks have proved once again that they can win playing their gritty style and hold down the Lightning's forwards, things are starting to point toward the Windy City's third Stanley Cup in six seasons.

As per Vegas Insider, Chicago is now a slight favorite to hoist the Cup:

Team	Odds
Chicago Blackhawks	10-13
Tampa Bay Lightning	11-10

Of course, if the Blackhawks are going to make good on their championship destiny again, they'll have to steal another game in Tampa Bay. They did just that way back in Game 1, but it took two late third-period goals to do so.

Do they have what it takes to mimic that performance once more in Amalie Arena and move toward another title, or will Tampa Bay fulfill its magical season with a championship? 

Predictions

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

If there's one thing you can bank on for the rest of this Stanley Cup Final, it's that things will be undeniably tight for these final three games. And yes, it will be three games—not two.

These teams have been incredibly evenly matched throughout the four games, and it hasn't just been with the overall numbers. No team has held a lead of more than one goal at any point in the series, as the two have traded punches and counterpunches at every opportunity.

Both teams are answering every call, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that the Blackhawks are more poised to turn it into wins.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Chicago only put 19 shots on rookie goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy in his surprise Game 4 start but did just enough to win. There's no telling what will happen when the Blackhawks can generate their usual offense on him. While Ben Bishop is assured to return in the series, Cooper told ESPN.com's Katie Strang, it's unclear when that will be. 

On the other end, Tampa Bay is having trouble solving Corey Crawford between the pipes, as he's having more success than any other goalie against the Lightning in these playoffs, per Jay Zawaski of 670 The Score:

Things weren't pretty for the Blackhawks in Game 4 at times, as they failed to produce 10 shots on goal in any of the three periods. But after Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews both helped in producing goals on separate lines, Chicago's line-shuffling issues look to be in the past.

Just as well, this is the time in playoff series that the Blackhawks tend to take control, as ESPN Stats & Info observed:

With all of this said, Steven Stamkos and these Lightning have picked themselves up off the mat throughout these playoffs and will continue to do so. They have looked like the better team for longer stretches, even outplaying the Blackhawks in Chicago's two victories.

The Lightning will use their championship resolve to answer valiantly in Game 5 to retake the series lead, but it will be short-lived. As they're known to do, the Blackhawks will answer in gritty fashion with their backs against the wall, taking Game 6 at home and battling past Tampa Bay in a classic seven-game series.

Prediction: Blackhawks in seven games