The Tampa Bay Lightning currently lead the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals series heading into Game 4 tonight at the United Center in Chicago.
You can watch the game live HERE. Puck drop is at 8:00 PM.
Here's all the latest news and tidbits to get you ready for the series' latest installment.
-Looks like the Blackhawks will be working with some reinforcements as they attempt to stave off a 3-1 deficit. According to FlyersNation.com, Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville indicated that defenseman Kimmo Timonen will hit the ice for the first time in the finals tonight.
"I'm really excited," said Timonen. "I'm obviously going to trust my experience and instincts, try to help the team as good as I can. It feels great."
Timonen, of course, was added by Hawks GM Stan Bowman prior to the trade deadline in exchange for what eventually became two second-round picks. Timonen battled back from potentially career-ending blood clots this season for one last chance at a Cup run - something he's never achieved in his 16-year NHL career.
If the Hawks win, Timonen's name will finally be engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup after almost two decades.
Sounds like Kyle Cumiskey will be the unlucky fellow taking a seat in favor of Timonen, per Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski.
Elsewhere on the Hawks 'D,' Chris Johnston of Sportsnet indicates that Johnny Oduya is "likely" to suit up.
-Lightning goalie Ben Bishop took part in Tampa Bay's morning skate, according to Tom Jones of The Tampa Bay Times, meaning he's likely to be in net for the Bolts as they look to widen their series lead.
Bishop suffered some type of undisclosed injury during Game 2 and never looked quite right despite emerging victorious in Game 3. As a bigger goalie, a lower-body injury could be disastrous and with the Lightning having only rookie Andrei Vasilevsky as his backup, Bishop's status will bear watching throughout the game.
-For the Blackhawks, their top two players, captain Jonathan Toews and more mullet than man, Patrick Kane, have yet to really get going. Right now, Toews and Kane have all of seven shots on goal and one assist between them. Will this be the game the notoriously tough-to-put-away Hawks get their offensive game on track, led by Toews and Kane? Tampa Bay's Cedric Paquette has done a maverlous job thus far keeping Toews in check, but it's likely only a matter of time before the Hawks and Toews break out of their mini offensive slump.
Remember, the Hawks outshot the Lightning 16-2 after the first goal in Game 3. A little luck and Chicago would have been running away with that one. Of course, missing empty nets, which the Blackhawks did twice in that period, will certainly hinder your ability to compete.
-One of the guys who missed a wide open net, Marion Hossa, has been an absolute beast for Chicago throughout the series. He was pushing the pace of play and making a strong Lightning defense look silly. Can he continue that in Game 4?
-Ditto for Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. Thus far in the series he's failed to register a point. If Tampa Bay is going to put the Hawks away, they'll need Stamkos to start helping the "Triplets" by making a mark on the score sheet. Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat are certainly talented, but they can't get the job done on their own.
Sure, Game 3 darling Paquette has certainly helped and Victor Hedman has definitely raised his game, but Stamkos getting his footing would go a long way toward advancing the Lightning cause. As it stands right now, right winger Ryan Callahan leads the Bolts - and the series - with four points.
