The Chicago Blackhawks, fueled by Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, are prepared to take the ice against Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena for a Western Conference showdown. Sportsnet Pacific will broadcast the game, and the action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 2.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
The Canucks (-155) are favored over the Blackhawks (+135), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -130 over, +110 under.
Vancouver is 21-19 straight-up (SU) and has earned 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the best in the Pacific Division so far this season, is a welcomed improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (35-47). Of the team’s 40 games this season, 20 have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 12-8 SU at home this year.
The Canucks have connected on 25.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
Boasting a .919 save percentage and 29.9 saves per game, Jacob Markstrom (13 wins, 14 losses, and three OT losses) has been the principal option in goal for the Nucks this season. If the Nucks choose to rest him, however, head coach Travis Green could go with Thatcher Demko (8-5-5 record, .907 save percentage, 2.92 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Chicago is 18-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 21 of its matches have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Blackhawks are 9-11 SU as the away team this season.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 15.3 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 ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.3 percent of all penalties.
Robin Lehner (.926 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Chicago. Lehner is averaging 32.4 saves per game and owns a 12-12-5 record.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The Canucks are 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Blackhawks are 2-4 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in four of Chicago’s last five games.
- Over Chicago’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
- Chicago skaters have accounted for the league’s ninth-most hits per game (24.0), but that number’s down to just 12.2 hits over their last five away games.
