Chicago is 11-2 in its last 13 games as an underdog.
The Chicago Blackhawks can capture their first Stanley Cup title since 1961 when they take the ice Wednesday at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center with a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven Finals series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Hawks now have two games to win one and end the NHL's longest Stanley Cup drought at 49 years. However, most offshore sports books monitored by the Don Best odds product have opened Philadelphia as a 130 home favorite for Wednesday's Game 6. The ‘total' is set at 5 ½ ‘over' (minus 140).
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The Blackhawks reached this point by skating past the Flyers in Sunday's Game 5 as 180 home favorites, 7-4. The combined 11 goals catapulted above the 5 ½-goal closing total, leaving the ‘over' 4-1 in the first five games of this series. The ‘over' has cashed in each of the last three outings.
Chicago outshot Philadelphia in the first period, 13-7, en route to a 3-0 lead. The Blackhawks finished with 28 shots on goal, one more than the visiting Flyers. Chicago also had a 38-31 advantage in the faceoff circle.
The Flyers failed to register a power play goal for the first time in the series, going 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Philly is now 5-for-19 with the extra attacker in this series, while Chicago is now 3-for-13 after going 2-for-4 in Game 5.
Dustin Byfuglien had two goals and two assists, while Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane each had a goal and an assist for the Hawks.
Much of the offensive explosion occurred at the expense of Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, who had effectively shut down the Hawks' top scorers during the first four games. Pronger was on the ice for six Chicago goals and in the penalty box for another. He finished the night with a plus/minus rating of minus-5.
Antti Niemi earned the win in goal by stopping 23-of-27 shots. The 26-year-old raised his postseason record to 15-5-1 and his overall ledger to 41-12-3-2. He has a 2.38 GAA and a .912 save percentage.
Philadelphia pulled starting goalie Michael Leighton for the second time in this series after he allowed three goals in the first 13 shots he saw. Leighton was once again replaced by Brian Boucher, who yielded another three goals on 14 shots. The seventh goal was scored into an empty net. The Flyers have announced that Leighton will be back between the pipes for the start of Game 6.
Along with newfound momentum after erasing the bad taste of defeats in Games 3 and 4 away from home, the Hawks have history on their side. Chicago is 16-3 all-time when winning three of the first five games of a postseason series.
It should be noted that Chicago is 11-2 in its last 13 games as an underdog. Playing away from United Center for Wednesday's Game 6 also shouldn't be a problem, as the Hawks are 11-3 in their last 14 road encounters.
Philadelphia is 24-7 in its last 31 home outings, 20-8 in its last 28 as a favorite and 15-5 in its last 20 meetings against Chicago.