The NHL Stanley Cup Final continue tonight in Game 2 between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The game is scheduled for an 7:15 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on NBC. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Lightning favored to pick up the win in tonight's contest.
Tampa Bay got an early lead in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final, but ultimately lost as they put it into cruise control. Had Tampa Bay continued to apply pressure to Chicago and scored a second or even third goal, their chance of winning would have gone up significantly.
Chicago, though, took advantage when it had to. Back-to-back goals from Teuvo Teravainen and Antoine Vermette in a span of three minutes late in the game gave the Blackhawks a third-period advantage that they would not relinquish. Chicago certainly believes it can win again in this game, but heading back home with a split is also a plus situation for them.
Tampa Bay was the best team in hockey at home during the regular season, but they are now just 5-6 in the NHL Playoffs on their own ice. The Lightning also led the league in scoring at 3.2 goals per game this season, but just one tally in the opening game before putting it into cruise control proved to be costly.
The Lightning have to play with a sense of urgency in this one. If they head back to Chicago after losing the first two games on their own ice, this series will be over. Chicago knows how to play in these types of situations, having won Stanley Cups in 2010 and 2013. They're in a prime position here and if they get another solid game from Corey Crawford in net, the Blackhawks could be up 2-0.
Ben Bishop has to be big for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have to stay out of the penalty box and capitalize if they get on the power play. They'll find a way to get it done.
Free Pick: Tampa Bay
Beating the Belmont for Beginners
Steve Fezzik and Teddy Covers are pro bettors, but both admit they aren't much for horse racing betting. They say that isn't a requirement to bet the Belmont though. Since American Pharoah is going for the Triple Crown, something we haven't seen since Affirmed in 1978, simply bet the field to win and you'll succeed. There have been 12 Triple Crown Contenders in the past 20 years and none of them have won, so the guys are more than comfortable to take the "no-win" bet on American Pharoah. Avoid the media hype about the special horse, there are too many horse "assassins" in the field and history shows it is a bad bet.
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