Vancouver at Chicago

The Blackhawks did what they needed to, as they opened the series on the road in Vancouver and stole a game to give them the home-ice advantage. Theoretically, this is now a five- game series with three games in Chicago. The Chicago offense has really been testing opponents, and they are unbeaten at home in the playoffs so far. The Blackhawks have averaged 3.7 goals per game in their last 12, but not because of a few big games, but because they have tallied three or more in 11 of the 12. Looking down the barrel of 0-2 start to the series while facing a first-period deficit of 2-0, the Blackhawks offense simply took over the game and turned a two goal deficit into a three-goal win. Vancouver had won eight games straight-up until then and it may have swung the momentum over to the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are 10-2 in their last 12 on two day’s rest and are also 20-7 as a favorite of -110 to -150 in their last 27. The Canucks are having a hard time recovering from an opponent’s offensive explosion of five goals or more as they have followed with a 1-7 mark. The worm has turned, so I like the Blackhawks to win game three.