Stanley Cup 2015: Blackhawks vs. Lightning Game 5 TV Info, Odds and Prediction

Two wins are all that stand in front of both the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning in their quest for the 2015 Stanley Cup, as a back-and-forth final shifts toward Game 5.

Things are knotted up at two games apiece after the teams traded road wins in the first four games, but it's the Blackhawks with the momentum after a 2-1 victory in Game 4. The Lightning looked poised to take a commanding series lead throughout stretches of that game, though, and will be ready to battle on their home ice Saturday night.

The extra day of waiting for hockey fans is indeed excruciating, but some players are using every minute of it, and it should only further guarantee a high-flying Game 5. With that said, let's take a closer look into the matchup.

2015 Stanley Cup Final Game 5

Date: Saturday, June 13

Time (ET): 8 p.m.

Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Game 5 Odds

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

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark

Preview and Prediction

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The Lightning return home just the way they left—tied in the Stanley Cup Final. But they have to be feeling somewhat empty-handed after the way things unfolded in Chicago this past week.

They started the two-game trip off right, taking a 4-3 victory over the Blackhawks in a game that so closely followed their usual fast-paced style. Things turned sour for much of Game 4, but they rallied to dominate the third period—only to come up goal-less, losing 2-1. 

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Chicago needed a resurgence from its stars—Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews—in order to get back in the series, and the Blackhawks got it. Toews scored, while Kane assisted Brandon Saad's game-winner. 

But a bounce-back performance from the entire team was needed in Game 4, which it is beginning to get in this series, as Patrick Sharp told Bleacher Report's Dave Lozo:

"

"I think everybody in the locker room felt we needed to play better and take a step in our team game," Sharp said. "The so-called big guys always have that pressure on their shoulders. They want to make that difference. I think that's why we've been a successful team here for the last seven, eight years is because those guys love those moments and want the puck on their stick." 

"

With four forwards logging 20 or more minutes of ice time in Game 4, the team most definitely chipped in. But even the victory came with a side of concern, as the Lightning exploded for three or four scoring chances in the final minute alone.

Their offense didn't come through in Game 4, but it hasn't been the worrying part of the game for Tampa Bay. Instead, the Lightning's conundrum lies between the pipes in a perceived injury saga with goaltender Ben Bishop.

The Lightning starter suffered an undisclosed lower body injury in Game 2 and played through it in Game 3, but rookie Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start for Game 4. He only allowed two goals, but it obviously wasn't enough.

He missed practice on Friday, further putting his status for Game 5 in doubt, but head coach Jon Cooper alluded that was the plan all along and he'll be re-evaluated on game day, per NHL.com's Dan Rosen:

Getting their 6'7" net-minder back between the pipes would be a huge momentum swing for Tampa Bay, but it's not looking likely. And the Blackhawks aren't about to allow a rookie goalie stand between them and their destiny.

Is it a coincidence that Kane and Toews both got going for the first time when facing Vasilevskiy? Perhaps. But it's no coincidence that they're now getting more chances and converting them since line mix-ups have allowed them more space and time on the puck.

Tampa Bay will battle back in its resilient fashion just as it's done all season, but it hasn't faced a goalie quite as strong as Corey Crawford thus far in the postseason, as Jay Zawaski of 670 The Score noted:

One goalie is stopping almost everything he sees, and the other, well, we don't know who the other one will be. One team is seeing its relentless offensive pursuit pay off with timely goals, and the other is coming up empty.

The Lightning's home ice will only factor in so much, once the white jerseys get going. If Chicago matches its energy level from Game 4, it won't matter what Tampa Bay does.

Prediction: Blackhawks 3, Lightning 2