Rask, Bruins Look To Take Commanding Series Lead With Game Four Wednesday

For the first time in the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins did not go to overtime in Monday night’s game three. That would have required the Blackhawks solving Tuukka Rask after the Bruins opened the scoring. Rask stopped all 28 shots he faced in a 2-0 win, earning his third shutout of the postseason and pushing Boston ahead two-games-to-one in the best-of-seven online sports betting series. The Bruins will get the chance to take a commanding three-games-to-one series lead when they host Chicago again on Wednesday night, with Rask looking to extend his shutout streak.

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 4
Chicago Blackhawks @ Boston Bruins
Wednesday June 19, 2013 – 8:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
NHL Sports Betting Line: Boston – 140

The 26-year old Rask has been the difference in this series so far with a save percentage better than .970 and just one goal allowed in his last seven periods of hockey.  The Bruins will rely on him again to help shut down the Blackhawks’ high-flying offense, and the defense deserves credit as well for doing an excellent job in front of him.

NHL Betting Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago has struggled to generate many scoring opportunities since the third overtime of game one, and must find a way to produce more traffic in front of Rask going forward. The Blackhawks’ powerplay was a woeful 0-for-5 in game three, and they were outshot 35-28 in the loss. Part of the problem has been Chicago’s faceoff numbers, as they were outdrawn a ridiculous 40-16 in game three. A second-period turnover led to the opening goal of the game from Daniel Paille before Patrice Bergeron iced it with a powerplay goal later on in the frame, and that was the difference in an otherwise tight game.

NHL Betting Preview: Boston Bruins

Boston didn’t make those same mistakes in its own end that the Blackhawks did, and when they found themselves pinned down their faceoff ability and strong physical play helped get them out of it. Rask was excellent once again, but the Bruins also did a great job of protecting him and limiting the second and third chances that Chicago had. Bergeron scored a key goal that helped seal game three, and he was also 24-for-28 in the faceoff circle in one of the best two-way efforts of the Stanley Cup Final to this point.

NHL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The online sports betting numbers favor Boston completing the home sweep as they benefit from the second change and continue to win the important faceoff and puck battles. For the first time all season the Blackhawks’ depth down the middle is being questioned, and with Rask helping to shut down the Chicago offense, it is only a matter of time before the Bruins break through and open this game up.

NHL Betting Pick: Boston Bruins - 140