The Stanley Cup Final heads back to Tampa Bay as a best-of-three series.
Chicago's victory on Wednesday ensures that whichever team wins Game 5 at Amalie Arena on Friday will be just one win away from being Stanley Cup champions. And after four games, it's anyone's guess who will earn that advantage.
Based on the fact Tampa Bay might start a rookie in net, one might bet on Chicago in Game 5. But Andrei Vasilevskiy performed admirably in place of the injured Ben Bishop in Game 4, allowing just two goals on 19 shots against. If he receives the same level of defensive support, there's reason to believe the Lightning could steal a win on home ice.
But Chicago features a stout defense of their own which has played just as well this series. Its led by Duncan Keith, who is logging remarkable minutes in these playoffs. Keith played a whopping 29 minutes in Game 4 and leads all players with 626 minutes logged in the playoffs. That's a full 90 minutes more than the runner-up, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.
Game 5 coverage
8 p.m. ET | Game 5, Stanley Cup Final
Amalie Arena | Tampa Bay
Nat'l: NBC
Live stream at NBC Live Extra
SB Nation presents: The life of a ref in the Stanley Cup Final