Stanley Cup Schedule 2015: Game 5 TV Guide, Blackhawks vs. Lightning Predictions

If your rooting interests are neutral, the 2015 Stanley Cup Final is one of the more exciting series that has been played in recent memory. If you're a fan of either the Chicago Blackhawks or Tampa Bay Lightning, antacids might have developed into a faithful companion these past few weeks. 

With a single goal deciding each of the four games for just the third time in NHL history, nothing suggests that Game 5 will be different. Below is Game 5 viewing information and who will come out on top.

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Game 5 Schedule and TV Listings

When: Saturday, June 13, 8 p.m. ET

Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Who wins: Tampa Bay 3-2. Here's why.

Stamkos Will Finally Arrive

He's too good to be held down all series. Steven Stamkos had seven goals and 10 assists in 20 games entering the Stanley Cup Final. In four games, he has just a single assist. 

The Lightning captain had a pair of golden opportunities to tie the game in front of Corey Crawford's net in the closing minute and a half of Game 4. With Crawford out of position, Stamkos received a pass from Alex Killorn, but a Chicago stick deflected his shot and sent it wide of the net.

Twenty seconds later, he was in front of the Blackhawks net when the puck rolled off Nikita Kucherov's stick from behind the goal. But Stamkos didn't lift his wrister enough at a close angle, and his attempt caromed of the Chicago goalie's arm.

While Stamkos' inability to score is causing the Lightning to somewhat suffer, Tampa's talisman told Yahoo Sports Greg Wyshynski that he's "not frustrated."

"

I mean, it's going to go, I just stick with it. If I had those two chances over again I'd try to get it away as quick as I could. The first one, their 'D' got a stick on it. Not much I can do. The looks are coming. Our game is right there. They're eventually going to start going in, hopefully in bunches. This one is a tough one. I thought we had it. We had the game right where we felt comfortable and they get one off a faceoff, a little broken down play. We'll regroup here and get back and ready to play in front of our fans.

"

Stamkos has attempted 14 shots in the Stanley Cup Final, including five each in Games 1 and 4. Look for his shot output in Game 5 to be higher than that, as the Blackhawks are going to see an even more aggressive Stamkos. 

He will be scoring his first goal of the Cup Final in Game 5.

The Third Line Will Regroup 

Tampa Bay's third line of Ryan Callahan, Cedric Paquette and J.T. Brown has been one of the Lightning's best this series. 

Not because of its goal scoring, which it has done plenty of at key times this series, including Paquette's Game 4 winner. It has been so important because the trio, along with defenseman Victor Hedman, was doing a fantastic job shutting down the Chicago Blackhawks' star players.

According to ESPN's Katie Strang, it was even playing mind games with them, especially in Game 2.

Entering Game 4, Jonathan Toews had just one assist, and Patrick Kane did not have a single point. Chicago then went and made adjustments, splitting the two up and distributing its talent through the depth chart.

It paid off, as Toews scored the first goal of Game 4, and Kane provided the assist on Brandon Saad's game-winner in the third period. 

Look for Lightning coach Jon Cooper to break down Chicago's line changes and disperse the right matchups that he sees fit. 

Blackhawk Defense Down

Somehow, some way, the Chicago Blackhawks defense has managed to stay solid for most of the Stanley Cup Final while basically playing with four defensemen. 

The Blackhawks have cycled between fifth and sixth defensemen that began with Kyle Cumisky and David Rundblad and has since evolved to Trevor van Riemsdyk and Kimmo Timonen. 

Timonen, who had been benched since May 25, was called into action for Game 4. He and Van Riemsdyk combined for a little over 12 minutes of time on the ice as they watched their Blackhawks get outplayed. Timonen even knew it, too, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnson.

Johnny Oduya sustained an upper-body injury in Game 3 and was questionable for Game 4. Not only did he play, but he was on the ice for over 25 minutes. The three other usual suspects—Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson—were on the ice for well over 20 minutes. Keith led all skaters with 29:07. 

It is only a matter of time before this amount of playing time will get to Chicago's defensemen. Tampa Bay is a fast team, and it is quick to exploit any holes left open. A tired defense will leave plenty of them open.

*Stats courtesy of NHL.com