Two teams facing each other for the first time this season, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks meet at Rogers Arena in a Western Conference matchup. Sportsnet ONE will air the matchup, and the action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 31.
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver (+100) is entering this one as the underdog to Chicago (-120), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 under, +100 over.
Earning moneyline bettors 6.7 units, the Canucks are 7-6 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed turnaround from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (31-51). Of the team’s 13 regular season outings, eight have gone under the total, while five have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 3-2 SU at home thus far.
Vancouver has converted on 18.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.7 times per game this season, a number that’s swelled some from last year’s 3.7 penalties per game the team gave up. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for a whopping 12.0 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 31.6 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (4-3) has been the primary option in goal for the Canucks this year. If they decide to rest him, however, head coach Travis Green could go with Anders Nilsson (3-3-3 record, .912 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat will both spearhead the attack for the Canucks. Pettersson (10 points) is up to seven goals and three assists and has recorded two or more points on two different occasions this year. Horvat has seven goals and three assists to his credit and has recorded a point in seven games.
On the other side of the ice, Chicago is 6-6 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. A total of seven of its outings have gone over the total, while five have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team so far, Chicago is 3-2 SU.
Chicago has converted on just 12.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
Chicago’s skaters have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 3.3, which was the fifth-best mark in the league. After serving an average of 7.5 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 7.5 minutes per matchup this year.
Cam Ward (.889 save percentage and 3.91 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Chicago. Ward is averaging 32.1 saves per game and owns a 3-4-3 record.
Patrick Kane (11 goals, seven assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Blackhawks.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
After losing all five of its shootouts last year, Vancouver is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Chicago was 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone under in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
After averaging 34.1 shot attempts as a team last season (the second-most in the league), Chicago’s attempted 34.3 shots per game overall this season, and 33.8 in its last 10 games.
Chicago skaters registered 16.8 hits per game last season, while the Nucks logged 21.3 hits per matchup.
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