Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and the Chicago Blackhawks are set to face off against Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in an East-West tilt. This one gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 9 and it can be viewed live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Chicago (+180) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-215), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 7 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Pittsburgh is 9-7 straight-up (SU) and has lost 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, the third-best in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, hasn’t moved much from what the team posted during the 2018-19 season (44-38). Through 16 regular season contests, eight of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 5-4 SU at home this season.
The Penguins have converted on just 13.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 24th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 86.8 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 24.5 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Matt Murray (8-5-1) has been the primary option in goal for the Pens this year. If the Pens, however, choose to give him a rest, Pittsburgh could turn to Tristan Jarry (1-3-3 record, .929 save percentage, 2.26 goals against average).
Chicago has lost 5.0 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 5-10 straight up (SU). A total of nine of its contests have gone under the total, while five have gone over and just one has pushed. The Blackhawks are 1-5 SU as a road team this season.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 14.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
Robin Lehner (.935 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Chicago. Lehner is averaging 30.4 saves per game and has three wins, six losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Seven of Chicago’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-5 in those games.
- The Blackhawks are 1-6 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Penguins are 4-2 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 8.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.6 giveaways per game (the 11th-fewest in the NHL).
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Chicago skaters have accounted for the fifth-most hits in the league (26.9 per game) while the Pens have recorded the second-most (28.6).
