The Chicago Blackhawks will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night in their NHL Stanley Cup Finals 2015 Game 5 match up from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Coming into Game 5 things are all square, making this Stanley Cup Finals series effectively a best of three contest from here on out.
Tonight's big Game 5 between the Blackhawks and the Lightning has a scheduled start time of 8 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the NBC network, or online through live stream via the link below.
This Stanley Cup Final is already gearing up to be one of the closes in Playoffs history, and things are finely balanced coming into Game 5. One thing's for certain though, after tonight one team will move to within just one more victory from winning the title, where as the losers will potentially have the navigate their way through two must-win games to steal the title.
Not only are things locked at 2-2 after the opening four games, but the manner of each of the games has made this series so close. All four games so far have been decided by a single goal, and neither team has led a game by more than one goal at any point so far. Over the four games, both the Blackhawks and the Lightning have scored nine goals each - meaning there really is next to nothing separating the teams.
Tampa Bay defenseman Matt Carle has said, "There's very little margin for error. Both teams are here because of the way they handle adversity, the things we've been through. [It] seems like every time a team makes a push, the other team responds."
It is unlikely the Lightning will change much tonight. They have suffocated the Blackhawks offense through the first four games, giving them next to no room to break loose, and they will go for the same strategy tonight to contain the Chicago attack.
Lightning associate coach Rick Bowness said, "What we lack in their Stanley Cup experience and gold medals at the Olympics, we make up for in our youthful enthusiasm and speed. For either one of us to think we're going to go out there and control 60 minutes of the game, this is my opinion, I just don't see it happening. There are moments in each of the four games that we were in control of it, and there are moments, like the second period [Wednesday] night, that they were in control of it. You have to give credit to both teams. We're good hockey clubs."
Not that the Blackhawks need much of an incentive to try and win tonight, but if they do claim the victory, they would be able to claim the title in front of their home fans in Game 6, which takes place back in Chicago.
Tonight's massive Game 5 Stanley Cup 2015 game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning has a scheduled start time of 8 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the NBC network or online through live stream by clicking here.
