Blackhawks vs Lightning: 2015 Stanley Cup Finals Preview
The 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Finals will feature the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. The teams are similar in nature and many look at the current Tampa Bay team that is still quite young and see the Chicago Blackhawks of 5 or 6 years ago.
The teams will likely play a very competitive up-tempo exciting series with a number of scoring opportunities from both, yet tough defense when it comes time to buckle down.
Stars abound on both sides of the ice. With the Blackhawks, you have Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp. For Tampa Bay, there are the likes of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman and Ondrej Palat.
Both teams are coming of tough, long, hard fought conference championship series that each went seven games. The Lightning will have home ice advantage with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday June 3.
Tampa Bay was in the top-5 in shot-attempt percentage during this past regular season but is not under 50% during the playoffs, which in all likelihood is a reflection of the way the Montreal Canadians, Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers were able to take away space from them. Tampa also proved if defense had to come first that they were up to the task with three wins at Madison Square Garden during their conference championship versus the Rangers.
Chicago has been very good at puck possession in the playoffs but both are strong in that department.
The Tampa Bay power play has proven to be very dangerous the last two rounds while the Blackhawks have struggled.
Corey Crawford the Chicago goaltender has experienced ups and downs during the postseason, but he played well when it mattered most against the Anaheim Ducks in the conference championship series.
The same can apply for Tampa’s Ben Bishop who did not look all that sharp against New York but had two shutouts, both at Madison Square Garden. Bishop played well in the clinching games in each of the previous three rounds including two Game 7 wins.
Based solely on experience Crawford has a slight edge at the goaltender spot.
The Lightning is a good group of young, talented players with a few high quality veterans. This team can be expected to return to the Cup finals over the next four to five seasons.
Chicago is chasing its third Cup in the past six seasons, but it could be a mighty tall order for them to accomplish. Their experience will likely give them the slight advantage to win the Stanley Cup in seven games.
