Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks Pick Prediction NHL Pro Hockey Finals Game 1 Odds Preview 6-12-2013

The Boston Bruins will be the road team in Game 1 of the best of seven NHL Stanley Cup Finals series against the Chicago Blackhawks in a pro hockey game on Wednesday night. Face off time from Chicago is scheduled for 8PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by NBC. The NHL finals game one odds have the home team Chicago Blackhawks favored by -142 odds with the return on the road underdog Boston Bruins at +131 odds. The goal over under line is set at five goals. With the lockout shortened season the Western and Eastern conference did not go head to head during the regular season. Boston began the playoffs by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. Up next were the New York Rangers and the Bruins opened up a 3-0 series lead before winning in five games. Boston drew the highest scoring team in the NHL in Pittsburgh and the Bruins advanced past the Eastern conference finals with a four game sweep of the Penguins. Boston allowed just two goals total over the four game series. Boston is second in the NHL in goals against average by allowing just 2.2 goals per game. They are active offensively by pushing across 32.4 shots per game ranking second best in the league. Boston in their series clincher got by Pittsburgh 1-0 in game four on Friday as a -104 betting odds favorite. The goal total landed under 5 ½ goals. Goalie Tuukka Rask has been outstanding in the playoffs with a goal against average of just 1.75 and record of 12-3-1. He has allowed one goal or fewer in five straight games. Chicago will own home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals based on their best overall record in the league. They opened up play in the playoffs by disposing of the eighth seeded Minnesota Wild in five games. In the Western conference semifinal round the Chicago Blackhawks found themselves down 3-1 in their series with Detroit. They rallied for three straight victories including a game seven overtime victory to advance into the Western conference finals. Chicago drew the defending Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings and disposed of Los Angeles in five games. Three of the four wins came by one goal. The Blackhawks advance into the Stanley Cup Playoff Finals after a 4-3 double overtime victory against the LA Kings on Saturday as a -187 home betting favorite. The total landed over five goals. The game winner came at 11:40 of double overtime as Patrick Kane records a hat trick for Chicago. The Blackhawks are the best defensive team in the NHL by surrendering just 2.0 goals per game. Offensively they are second best by tallying 3.1 goals per game. Both teams have been poor on power play chances in the playoffs. Goalie Corey Crawford in 17 playoff games this season is 12-4-1 with a goal against average of 1.94.