Two clubs facing each other for the first time this season, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks clash at Rogers Arena in a Western Conference showdown. The matchup gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 31, and fans at home can see the game live on Sportsnet ONE.
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Chicago (-120) is currently favored over Vancouver (+100), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -120 under, +100 over.
Earning 6.7 units for moneyline bettors, Vancouver is 7-6 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising improvement over the 31-51 record from the 2017-18 season campaign. Of its 13 regular season contests, eight have gone under the total, while five have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 3-2 SU at home this year.
The Canucks have converted on 18.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 10th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
The Canucks, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed some from the 3.7 penalties per game they were whistled for last year. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to kill penalties for a noteworthy 12.0 minutes per outing this season.
Sporting a .909 save percentage and 31.6 saves per game, Jacob Markstrom (four wins, three losses) has been the best option in goal for the Nucks this season. If Vancouver chooses to rest him, however, the team may go with Anders Nilsson (3-3-3 record, .912 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat will each be focal points for the Canucks. Pettersson (10 points) is up to seven goals and three assists and has recorded multiple points two times this year. Horvat has seven goals and three assists to his name and has notched a point in seven contests.
On the other hand, Chicago is 6-6 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.2 units this year. Through 12 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the away team so far, the Blackhawks are 3-2 SU.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 12.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
Chicago’s skaters have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 3.3, which was the fifth-lowest mark in the league. After serving an average of 7.5 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 7.5 minutes per outing this year.
Cam Ward (3.91 goals against average and .889 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Chicago. Ward is averaging 32.1 saves per game and has three wins, four losses, and three overtime losses to his credit.
Patrick Kane (11 goals, seven assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Blackhawks.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- After losing all five of their shootouts last year, the Canucks are off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Chicago went 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- The total has gone under in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
- After averaging 34.1 shots per game as a team last season (the second-most in the league), Chicago’s attempted 34.3 shots per contest overall this season, and 33.8 in its last 10 games.
- Chicago skaters recorded 16.8 hits per game last season, while the Canucks logged 21.3 hits per matchup.
