Tampa Bay: LW Alex Killorn, C Valtteri Filppula, C/RW Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay's captain and established offensive superstar, was criticized after an ineffective first round. That criticism has been muted of late, because in the second and third rounds, he found the range against two of the best goalies in hockey.
Over his last 12 games, Stamkos has beaten Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist seven times, and on seven other occasions, he's earned an assist on somebody else's goal.
The Lightning's second line has a classic feel to it. Stamkos is the scorer, Valtteri Filppula the two-way threat and playmaker and Alex Killorn the chippy grinder. The three have balanced each other nicely, and this is more like a No. 1A line than a true No. 2 unit.
Chicago: LW Bryan Bickell, C Brad Richards, RW Marian Hossa
This line didn't get a lot of time together in the final game of the Anaheim series, as Bryan Bickell was hurt early, but Joel Quenneville told CSN's Tracey Myers that Bickell "should be fine" going forward.
Against the star power of the Stanley Cup Final, it's easy to underrate this unit, but it has a lot going for it.
Marian Hossa has long been a brilliant two-way player, and while he's slowing down a little as he ages, he's still an offensive threat and a defensive stalwart. Brad Richards is a veteran playmaker, a warhorse with a Conn Smythe trophy earned in the Lightning's service. Bickell brings the brawn and has a history of scoring in the postseason.
It's a good line, and it gets better if Patrick Kane rejoins.
Advantage: Tampa Bay
