Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Game 5 Odds, Betting Stats

The Chicago Blackhawks tied up the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 victory in Game 4 Wednesday night, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are home favorites for Game 5 of the series Saturday night at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

The Blackhawks head into Game 5 at Amalie Arena Saturday as small 11-10 road underdogs against the Lightning, who are 5-6 home favorites for the contest.

Despite possibly needing to play two of the final three games on the road, Chicago does possess the championship experience of winning two Stanley Cups in the previous five years along with a notable 41-14 record in Games 4-7 dating back to 2009.

The best-case scenario for the defensively challenged Blackhawks, though, would be wins in Game 5 and then back at home in Game 6. Each of their previous two recent Cup-clinching victories took place in Game 6, although both were on the road in Philadelphia and Boston because they had home-ice advantage.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s fortunes may or may not ride on goaltender Ben Bishop, who did not play in Game 4 due to an undisclosed injury. Bishop earned the Game 3 win in a 36-save effort that saw the Lightning outscore Chicago 3-2, but he has been bothered by whatever injury is ailing him throughout the series and remains questionable for Game 5.

Lightning backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 17 of 19 shots by the Blackhawks in Game 4 and did get credit for the Game 2 win with five saves in relief of Bishop after he departed twice in the third period and failed to finish the contest.

The first four games of the Blackhawks vs. Lightning betting matchup have all been decided by one goal, with neither team holding a lead of more than one at any point. Both Chicago wins have been by identical 2-1 scores and went under the betting total, while each Tampa Bay victory had at least a combined five goals between the teams.

The under is now 3-1 in the series according to the Odds Shark NHL Database, but bettors should keep in mind that the total moved to 5.5 in Games 3 and 4 from 5 in Games 1 and 2.