Soko,
We'll see about who will be kissing their (series bet) money good-bye, and who will be kissing whose asses once the series ends and a new Stanley Cup champion is crowned.
It's now a best of 3 series, and I like Hawks' chances, given their incredible playoff history in games 5-7 under coach Quenneville and their current core group of veteran players. While I admit that Crawford is due to occasional lapses, and is not as good as the last goalie that Tampa faced (and beat) in TY's playoffs, that being Henrik Lundqvist of the NY Rangers, Tampa's goalie situation is not the greatest, either, with Bishop missing last game due to an injured knee which limits his mobility, and giving way to a rookie goalie who had a save % of just 89.5 % last nite, compared to Crawford's 96%. And even though two of the last 3 games will be played in Tampa, assuming the series goes the full 7 games, home ice has not been significant in this series, nor in ANY of Tampa's playoff series TY, as Tampa is 8-4 on the road in TY's playoffs but just .500 (6-6, I believe) at home, and a big loser in net units in those 12 playoff home games, having been favored in every one.
So while I'd say it's a toss-up who will win game 5, and I won't be playing either side since I have a lot riding on my Chicago series plays, I still firmly believe that the Hawks will be the last team standing and that their players will be the ones celebrating by holding up and skating around with the Cup after the final game.
Great Owl