A couple of teams on winning streaks, the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks meet at the United Center. This Central Division matchup gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 22 and it can be watched live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Both squads have an identical -110 money line and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. If bettors want to wager on this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
The Blackhawks are 26-35 straight-up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -2.9 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage hasn’t moved much from the 33-49 record the team managed during the 2017-18 season campaign. Among its 61 games this season, 40 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 14-17 SU at home this season.
Chicago’s converted on 21.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.3 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Chi-town has been called for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.6 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.0 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to stave off opposition power plays for just 7.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Sporting a .894 save percentage and 29.9 saves per game, Cam Ward (14-14-4) has been the top option in goal for the Blackhawks this season. If they decide to give him a breather, however, head coach Jeremy Colliton might roll with Corey Crawford (6-17-17 record, .902 save percentage, 3.28 goals against average).
The Hawks will continue to lean on the offensive production out of Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. Kane (92 points) has tallied 38 goals and 54 assists and has recorded multiple points on 25 different occasions this year. DeBrincat has 33 goals and 28 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 41 games.
On the other hand, Colorado is 25-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. Colorado’s 13-18 SU as a road team this season.
Colorado has converted on 21.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Colorado’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, and 5.6 per game over their past five games. The team has had to kill penalties 13.8 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Semyon Varlamov (.911 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 27.2 saves per game and has 16 wins, 24 losses, and eight OT losses to his credit.
Nathan MacKinnon (30 goals, 47 assists) has been one of the most vital facilitators on offense for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in each of their past five matchups.
- Colorado has managed 33.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago has been attempting 38.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over Chicago’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
- Colorado skaters registered 20.4 hits per game last season, while the Blackhawks posted 16.8 hits per matchup.
