Rogers Arena will be the site for a Western Conference matchup as the Vancouver Canucks welcome the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. The match gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1, and it can be viewed live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Chicago (+100) is currently the underdog to Chicago (-120), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -105 for the over and -115 for the under.
Chicago is 24-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Hawks are 12-13 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Chicago has converted on just 15.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
The Hawks, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 3.6 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 3.0 per game over its past five matchups. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .929 save percentage, Corey Crawford (16-12-2) has been the top option in goal for Chicago this year. If Chicago decides to rest him, however, head coach Joel Quenneville could roll with Anton Forsberg (6-12-3 record, .915 save percentage, 2.86 goals against average).
Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blackhawks. Kane (50 points) is up to 20 goals and 30 assists, and has recorded two or more points 13 times. Schmaltz has 13 goals and 23 assists to his name, and has logged a point in 20 games.
Vancouver is 20-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 50 regular season matches, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 9-16 SU at home.
The Canucks have converted on 22.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Canucks players have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their past ten match ups. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom has stopped 26.3 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has 14 wins, 23 losses, and five overtime losses and has registered a pedestrian 2.75 goals against average and a poor .908 save percentage this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Brock Boeser (24 goals, 20 assists).
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Vancouver’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
The Blackhawks are 4-7 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canucks are 9-11 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
The total has gone over in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
Vancouver is ranked 11th this season with 8.8 giveaways per game. That figure has improved, however, as it’s averaged 7.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.6 giveaways over its last five.
Chicago is ranked 12th this season with 8.9 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as the team’s averaged 7.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 giveaways over its last five.
