Stanley Cup Final: Five keys to Lightning vs. Blackhawks in Game 4

CHICAGO – The Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks will do battle in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Tampa leads the series 2-1.

Here are five keys for Game 4:

1. Get that first goal. The Lightning have scored the first goal in all three games of the Final. They’re 11-1 this postseason when they get on the board first; it would be a perfect record had they not allowed the Blackhawks to score twice in 118 seconds to take Game 1. Chicago is 9-1 when they get the first goal.

2. Don’t feel safe with a lead. All three games have featured one team coming from behind to win. Chicago rallied late in Game 1. Tampa scored three of Game 2’s final four goals after falling behind 2-1 early in the second period; and the Lightning had a third period in Game 3, capped off by Cedric Paquette’s goal with 3:11 to go. According to the NHL, 32 of the 86 playoff games this spring have seen a comeback victory.

3. Ben Bishop’s mobility. Bishop is bothered by some sort of lower-body injury, possibly his leg. The Blackhawks saw in Game 3 he was dealing with some issues, and if they believe it’s related to his lower body then they need to do their best to force Bishop to move laterally. If his mobility becomes an issue, Chicago can and should exploit that. (UPDATE: Nevermind. Bishop is a scratch.)

4. Same old for Blackhawks’ third pairing? Kimmo Timonen will be back in Chicago’s lineup for the first time since May 25. The 40-year old Finn will draw in for Kyle Cumiskey and be paired with Trevor van Riemsdyk. Does he have anything left in the tank, and will Joel Quenneville keep riding his top four horses heavily? Johnny Oduya is expected to play, meaning another likely heavy workload for the top four.

5. Be on guard after goals. Eleven times this postseason the Blackhawks have allowed goals within two minutes of scoring one. The latest came in Game 3 when Brandon Saad gave Chicago a 2-1 lead early in the third period and 13 seconds later Ondrej Palat evened the score. You’ve got to think the Blackhawks will be more defensively aware going forward.

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