Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Game 6 Odds Preview, Betting Stats

The Chicago Blackhawks will attempt to win their third Stanley Cup in six years in a Game 6 Monday night when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning as solid -180 home favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.

The Blackhawks also won the Stanley Cup in 2010 and 2013 in a Game 6, but both of those clinchers took place on the road, as they have not hoisted the Cup at home since 1938.

Chicago is also a strong -420 favorite at the sportsbooks to win the series with Tampa Bay following its third 2-1 victory, and second on the road, in Game 5 Saturday to grab the 3-2 series advantage.

The Blackhawks improved to 42-14 in Games 4-7 of NHL playoff series since 2009 with their latest win, and each victory for them in this Stanley Cup Final has been decided in the third period. Antoine Vermette was the hero again in Game 5, scoring the winning goal in the third just like he did in Game 1.

The only difference between the series opener and Games 4 and 5 is that Chicago trailed Game 1 by a 1-0 score heading into the third, with the others tied 1-1.

The Lightning are +160 underdogs to win Game 6 and +350 to rally back and take the Cup, although they also trailed the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in their first-round playoff series before winning in seven games at home.

Tampa Bay still owns the best road record of any NHL team this postseason at 8-4, but the Blackhawks are the top home team with a mark of 8-2 according to the OddsShark NHL database.

Goaltender Ben Bishop did not start Game 4 for the Lightning at Chicago due to an undisclosed injury, and his play in Game 6 there will likely determine whether or not his team will get the opportunity to host Game 7 Wednesday. Bishop was solid overall in Game 5 with some extra rest, but he did make a poor play in the first period when he collided with defenseman Victor Hedman, which resulted in surrendering an easy goal to Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp.

That goal might have not been the game-winner but proved to be the difference in what has been a competitive Lightning vs. Blackhawks betting matchup.

All five games of the series have been decided by one goal for the first time in Stanley Cup Final history, with neither team holding a lead of more than one at any point. The under is now 4-1 for totals bettors through the first five games as well, with the number closing at 5.5 in each of the past three contests.