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Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks Free Game 5 Pick | NHL Preview

Bruins vs Blackhawks Handicapping

A most unpredictable Stanley Cup Final resumes in Chicago Saturday night on the heels of the highest scoring and likely most exciting Finals game in years. The Chicago Blackhawks bucked the odds and came up with their best effort in Game 4 which proves again the adage that there simply is no momentum in the Stanley Cup Final.

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Boston Bruins (42-17-6-3) at Chicago Blackhawks (50-12-2-5)
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, June 22, 2013
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: CBC, NBC, RDS
Series tied 2-2
Bruins vs. Hawks Betting Lines
Boston Bruins +1½ -260 +132 Ov 4½ -131
Chicago Blackhawks -1½ +220 -145 Un 4½ +119
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Cup Final Returns to Chicago All Knotted Up

11 goals are not likely Saturday (there were 12 total goals scored in the first three games) although both teams are definitely showing signs of fatigue. This year’s Final is the first time since 1993 that three of the first four games have gone into overtime.

Wednesday was the first time a Stanley Cup Final game ended in overtime and featured more than 10 goals since the New York Islanders defeated the Vancouver Canucks in 6-5 in Game 1 of the 1982 Final and the first to finish with a 6-5 final score since the Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the 2010 Final. Buckle up folks – Game 5 promises to be yet another classic. We would expect nothing less!

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The Chicago Blackhawks finally put it all together in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final – all but the defense and goaltending which carried them through the regular season and playoffs so far. But a win is a win and there is plenty to build on after Wednesday night’s series-tying victory. After scoring just one goal in Games 2 and 3, the Blackhawks lit things up on Wednesday.

Offensively the Hawks looked like a different team after Coach Joel Quenville finally reunited Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane – both scored in Game 4 and both looked much better that they have all series long. Patrick Sharp has also continues his incredible postseason play – he scored his 10th goal of the playoffs to take the NHL lead in that category.

That gives the Hawks two terrific scoring lines now – the depth and balance is finally starting to resurface after a slow start to the series. Marion Hossa proved just why he is such an integral part of this offense – he was terrific on Wednesday and solidified the offensive line combinations that gave the Boston defense fits in Game 5.

Defensively the Hawks obviously have to tighten up – five goals against simply won’t get it done on most nights. We will give Corey Crawford a mulligan for Wednesday night’s performance although there has to be some concern that the Bruins have figured out his glaring weakness – LOW GLOVE HAND!!!!

Credit the Boston Bruins for their persistence in Game 4. It’s too bad their hallmark defense let them down and that Tuukka Rask was… average at best. Believe it or not, there were some bright spots for Boston in Game 4 – Tyler Seguin continues to play very well and the depth continued to impress.

But for every positive coming out of Wednesday night’s game there is a negative. Like Corey Crawford, I am willing to give Rask a mulligan – there is no way we see a performance like that again. But of greater concern was the defensive play and the perceived and understandable exhaustion of guys like Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg who have logged a ton of hard minutes in the playoffs and seem to be wearing down. An extra day to rest will definitely help but the wear is finally starting to show on Boston’s stout defense. [ad-4437448]

The play of Jaromir Jagr continues to be a bright spot offensively for the Boston Bruins – he recorded another two assists Wednesday and although he is not scoring AT ALL, his presence is being felt every shift for the Bruins. Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron scored twice in Game 4 to give him four goals in this series and nine for the playoffs, tied with teammate David Krejci for the team lead and second behind Sharp in the League.

The top line of Lucic, Krejci and Horton also looked dangerous for the Bruins Wednesday night – offense doesn`t appear to be a concern for Boston ahead of Game 5!

Betting Prediction

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A few trends to consider:

• Under is 13-3-1 in BOS last 17 Sat. games.
• BOS are 11-3 in their last 14 overall.
• BOS are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. Central.
• Under is 4-1-3 in CHI last 8 Sat. games.
• CHI are 12-4 in their last 16 Sat. games.
• CHI are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. Northeast.

The 2013 Stanley Cup Final is turning into a potential classic and is one of the hardest series to call that I can remember.

No team has won two in a row and no team has been able to sustain any sort of momentum. But there are some obvious signs that help me make my pick – exhaustion is certainly one of them. Chicago looked like the fresher team on Wednesday night – the Bruins need the Zdeno Chara to be a beast and he looks like he is on fumes. Also, Chicago’s best players finally looked like their best players in Game 4.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane should have gained some much needed confidence from their Game 4 showing. It all adds up to a Chicago win in front of the raucous home town fans Saturday night.

Pick: Chicago Blackhawks -145

By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.