A couple of teams currently on two-game losing skids, the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks collide at the United Center. Prime Ticket will showcase this Western Conference matchup, and the puck drops at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 11.
Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago (-135) is favored over Anaheim (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. If gamblers want to play this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
The Blackhawks are 19-26 straight up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (returning -2.6 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage hasn’t moved much from what the team produced during last year’s regular season (36-46). Of its 45 regular season outings, 23 have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 10-14 SU at home.
Chicago has converted on just 15.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that puts the team in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Chicago has been penalized 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its past five games. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 7.6 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .922 save percentage and 32.3 saves per game, Robin Lehner (12-13-5) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Blackhawks this season. If they decide to give him the evening off, however, head coach Jeremy Colliton could roll with Corey Crawford (7-16-16 record, .906 save percentage, 3.09 goals against average).
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will each be focal points for the Blackhawks. Kane (56 points) has tallied 24 goals and 32 assists and has recorded multiple points on 13 separate occasions this year. Toews has 10 goals and 23 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 20 games.
On the visiting bench, Anaheim is 17-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. 24 of its contests have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team this season, Anaheim is 6-15 SU.
Anaheim has converted on just 14.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.0 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s skaters have been penalized 4.4 times per game this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
John Gibson (.906 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Anaheim. Gibson is averaging 28.1 saves per game and owns a 13-20-3 record.
Ryan Getzlaf (11 goals, 19 assists) has been one of the primary playmakers on offense for the visiting Ducks.
Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Two of Anaheim’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in three of their last five matchups.
- Anaheim has managed 26.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago has been attempting 30.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Five of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 0-5 in those games.
- The Blackhawks this season have handed out the sixth-most hits per game in the NHL (24.5), but that number has risen to 32.4 over their last five games as the home team.
