Two squads currently on losing skids, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks take the ice at Rogers Arena in a Western Conference showdown. The action will get started at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 28 and it can be caught live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Chicago (+110) is entering this one as the underdog to Chicago (-130) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Chicago is 17-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 20 of its matches have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Blackhawks team is 7-11 SU on the road.
Chicago has converted on just 14.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.6 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Hawks have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 3.2 per game over its past ten contests. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .929 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Corey Crawford (16-12-2) has been the primary option in goal for Chicago this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Anton Forsberg (2-9-3 record, .909 save percentage, 3.13 goals against average).
The visiting Blackhawks have relied on Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat this year. Kane (35 points) is up to 15 goals and 20 assists, and has recorded multiple points nine times. DeBrincat has 12 goals and 11 assists to his credit, and has logged a point in 16 games.
On the other side of the rink, Vancouver is 15-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 21 of its outings have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 6-13 SU as the home team.
The Canucks have converted on 21.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver players have been penalized 4.0 times per game in total this season, 4.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 4.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 10.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Jacob Markstrom (26.2 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has nine wins, 17 losses, and four overtime losses to his name and has registered a fairly-weak .905 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Brock Boeser (20 goals, 14 assists).
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of Vancouver’s last five outings.
The Blackhawks have averaged the league’s third-most shots on goal (34.7) and Vancouver has attempted just the 28th-most (29.6).
Vancouver has allowed 3.3 goals per game (overall) this season, but has allowed 5.3 goals per matchup over its four-game losing streak.
Eight of Vancouver’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 1-7 overall in those games.
