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Blackhawks, Lightning battle in Game 4 Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 6/10/2015  at  11:04:00 AM
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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (64-33-8) at CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (61-34-7)

Stanley Cup Finals Game 4: Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Tampa Bay +145, Chicago -165, Total: 5.5

The Blackhawks look to even up the series when they host the Lightning in Game 4 on Wednesday.

Chicago put a lot of pressure on Tampa Bay in Game 3, outshooting the lightning 38-32 but it was not enough to earn a victory. The Lightning won the game 3-2 on a late goal in the third period and the team will now be looking to take a 3-1 series lead heading back to Game 5 in Tampa Bay. With the win in Chicago on Monday, the Lightning have now won three of their past four games at United Center. Four of the past five games played between these teams have gone Under the total. Tampa Bay is 8-3 ATS in road games in the playoffs this season. It also faces a Chicago team that is just 12-19 ATS after two consecutive non-conference games over the past two seasons. The Blackhawks, however, get to face a Tampa team that is just 10-15 ATS off a road win this season. G Ben Bishop (Lower Body) didn’t suffer any setbacks in Game 3, so he’ll be in net for Tampa Bay on Wednesday. D Johnny Oduya (Upper Body) got injured on Monday, but he should be able to give it a go for the Blackhawks in this must-win Game 4.

The Lightning picked up a huge road victory in Game 3 and it was a goal from C Cedric Paquette (3 G in playoffs) on a pass from D Victor Hedman (1 G, 13 A, 14 PTS in playoffs) that won the game for Tampa Bay in the third period. Hedman has been one of the best players in the entire league during this postseason run and he’ll need to continue to play solid defense and also generate pressure in the offensive end this series. Hedman also assisted on a goal from RW Ryan Callahan (2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS in playoffs) in the first period. Callahan had not scored since Game 6 of the series against the Rangers and is a guy that can really boost his team when producing offensively. Cs Steven Stamkos (7 G, 10 A, 17 PTS in playoffs) and Tyler Johnson (13 G, 10 A, 23 PTS in playoffs) did not find the back of the net in Game 3. Johnson, however, had an assist and continues to be a dominant force offensively in these playoffs. Stamkos, meanwhile, has really struggled and must break out of his slump soon. The Lightning are winning the series, but they can really use a jolt of offense from their captain on Wednesday. G Ben Bishop (13-9, 2.19 GAA, 91.9% SV% in playoffs) did not seem bothered by a knee injury he suffered in Game 2. Bishop stopped 36 of the 38 shots the Blackhawks sent his way and will need to continue to send shots away the remainder of the series.

The Blackhawks were unable to earn a big win in Game 3 on Monday and they will need C Jonathan Toews (9 G, 10 A, 19 PTS in playoffs) and RW Patrick Kane (10 G, 10 A, 20 PTS in playoffs) to step it up offensively in this series. Both guys have failed to score a goal and that absolutely must change if Chicago is going to claw its way back in the series. The rest of the Blackhawks have had to step it up with the stars struggling and a few guys who did so in Game 3 were RW Marian Hossa (4 G, 12 A, 16 PTS in playoffs) and LW Brandon Saad (7 G, 2 A, 9 PTS in playoffs). Hossa had two assists in the game and Saad scored his seventh goal of the playoffs. They’ll need to continue to produce until Toews and Kane snap out of their funks. G Corey Crawford (10-6, 2.59 GAA, 91.6% SV% in playoffs) will also have to play even better the rest of the way. He saved 29 of the 32 shots he faced in Game 3, but he has now allowed 3.5 goals per game over the past two contest and that will not be good enough with the Blackhawks struggling offensively.


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