Two teams currently on losing skids, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks collide at Rogers Arena in a Western Conference showdown. The opening face-off is at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 28, and you are able to catch the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Chicago (+110) is entering this one as the underdog to Chicago (-130) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Chicago is 17-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 20 of its contests 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 opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and the teams successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Hawks have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last ten matchups. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .929 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Corey Crawford (16-12-2) has been the best option in goal for Chicago this year. If head coach Joel Quenneville decides to rest him, however, Chicago could turn to Anton Forsberg (2-9-3), who has a .909 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average this year.
Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat will both be offensive focal points for the visiting Blackhawks. Kane has 35 points on 15 goals and 20 assists, and has recorded two or more points in nine different games. DeBrincat has 12 goals and 11 assists to his creditand has notched 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. Through 37 regular season matches, 21 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 6-13 SU at home this season.
The Canucks have converted on 21.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game in total this season, 4.4 per game over their past five outings total, and 4.4 per game over their last five at home. The teams had to defend opponent power plays 10.4 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Jacob Markstrom has stopped 26.2 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has nine wins, 17 losses, and four OT losses and has maintained a pedestrian 2.77 goals against average and a fairly-weak .905 save percentage this season.
Brock Boeser (20 goals, 14 assists) will pace the attack for the Nucks.
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Eight of Vancouver’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 1-7 overall in those games.
- The Blackhawks are 13-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-9 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- The total has gone over in four of Vancouver’s last five games.
- Vancouver has allowed 3.3 goals per game overall this year, but has given up 5.3 goals per matchup over its four-game losing streak.
- Vancouver is ranked 13th this season with 9.3 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward, as it’s averaged 10.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.6 giveaways over its last five.
- Chicago has averaged 9.0 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 13th in the NHL).
