In historically tight series, Blackhawks and Lightning have no room for error

TAMPA -- None of the players in this year's Stanley Cup Final were born the last time the NHL had a Final with scores this close. Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was only 10, and Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper was nine months old.

It was 1968, and the Toe Blake-coached Montreal Canadiens swept the Scotty Bowman-coached St. Louis Blues, but every game was decided by a goal, mostly because the Blues boasted Hall of Fame goalie Glenn Hall.

Since then, the NHL hasn't had the first four Final games decided by one goal until the Blackhawks beat the Lightning 2-1 Wednesday in Game 4 to tie the best-of-seven series.

"There's very little margin for error," Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle said.

This series is much closer than the Final 47 years ago. Everyone knew the Canadiens were a better team in 1968 and no one is sure which team is better this year. After four games, both teams have had their moments, and each team has scored nine goals.

"Seems like every time a team makes a push, the other team responds," Carle said. "Obviously, you'd like to open it up and get a couple-goal lead and see what happens. But both teams are comfortable playing in tight games."

One major difference between the two teams right now is that the Lightning keep saying they like how they are playing and the Blackhawks always seem to be talking about the need to play better. After Game 4, there was talk in the Blackhawks dressing room about it being their worst game, even though they won.

"If they felt like they played their worst. It was probably because of the things we were doing," Carle said. "I thought we played a pretty sound defensive game. When you do that, you're going to make teams not do the things they want to do."

The Blackhawks have won 71 playoff games since 2009, while the Lightning were missing the playoffs four of seven seasons.

Both of these teams have a swagger. "I think both teams are feeling pretty confident it's going to go their way right now," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said.

How each team will win two of the next three games is the question each is wrestling with.

The Blackhawks are counting on their experience. In Games 4-7 of a playoff series, they are 41-14 since 2009. They are 7-2 this season. They seem to grow stronger as a series unfolds.

But what the Blackhawks need is for Patrick Kane to be dominant like he was earlier in the playoffs and has been throughout his career. He doesn't have a goal in this series, and he's been a minus-player.

Likewise, the Lightning will be looking for their captain Steven Stamkos to improve his play. He also hasn't scored in the series, and has gone six games without a goal. He's also been a minus-players in that span.

"This kid wants to win," Lightning associate coach Rick Bowness said. "His heart is in the right place. He's become a real solid two-way player. He works very hard without the puck."

What the Lightning probably need most of all is Ben Bishop is to be healthy enough to play. Backup Andrei Vasilevskiy, 20, is talented enough to win a playoff game. But it is almost unfair to be ask him to be a difference-maker at this stage of his career.

The Lightning insist they have as much confidence in Vasilevskiy as Bishop.

"Now, does Ben get out of the net a little quicker, handle the puck better, snap it up?" Bowness said. "Yeah, he's got a little more experience. More experience in the North American game than Vasi has."

With two days off before Game 5 on Saturday, Bishop has more time to recover, hence a better chance of playing.

"He'll come in tomorrow," Bowness said. "He'll be looked at by our top-shelf, top-notch medical team. It's day-to-day."

And this series has changed minute-by-minute. That's why we've seen the closest scores since 1968.

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