Stanley Cup Finals: Original Six Teams Meet for Cup
Patrick Kane
The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins, two of the “Original Six” members of the NHL will meet tonight in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blackhawks and Bruins are both trying to win their second Stanley Cup championships in the last four seasons, both having ended long championship droughts before that.
The Bruins comes into the Finals after sweeping the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in surprisingly easy fashion. They went to Pittsburgh for the first two games and outscored the home team 9-1 in sweeping them there. In Boston, things were a bit tighter but the Bruins still prevailed in both games to complete the sweep. Game Four was won 1-0 after they won Game Three 2-1. They held Pittsburgh to two goals in the entire series.
The Blackhawks knocked off the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings in five games, winning the fifth game in double overtime after giving up an early 2-0 lead. Chicago was the top seed in the Western Conference and will have the home ice advantage in Game One.
Both teams made improbable comebacks to get this far. The Bruins came from behind in Game Seven of their first round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs to win. Boston found themselves down by four goals in that game. Their fans had started to leave before the third period. Boston then stormed back, scoring twice after pulling the goalie in the last 2:00 of regulation to tie the game before winning in overtime.
Chicago trailed in the Western Semifinals 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings before coming back to win that series. They won the last two games by one goal to get past the Wings.
Neither team has had much resistance since making their comebacks. So tonight, something has to give.
BetOnline has the Bruins +1.5 -240 and the Blackhawks -1.5 +200 ATS. Moneyline is Bruins +130 and Blackhawks -143. Over/under is 5 with over +140 und under -115.
We like Chicago -143 or the Bruins +1.5 -240. We think Chicago wins it 2-1. So take the under -115 too.
