Penguins vs. Blackhawks Pick
After playing last night, can the Pittsburgh Penguins make a quick turnaround and pick up a road win over the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 8:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Blackhawks are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -120 to win. The Penguins are listed with a money line of +100 on the road, while the over/under total for the game has been set at 5.5 goals. Tonight’s contest takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
NHL Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
The Penguins opened the season on Wednesday and the defending Stanley Cup champs suffered a 5-4 OT loss to the St. Louis Blues. Pittsburgh was chasing St. Louis most of the game, having to score a pair of goals late in the third period just to force overtime. Pittsburgh looked sloppy, giving the puck away 13 times while being out-hit by the Blues 36-27. Matt Murray made 29 saves, but had just a .853 save percentage. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist to lead the Pittsburgh offense.
The Blackhawks had another great regular season in 2016-17, going 50-23-9 to earn the top spot in the West come the playoffs. However, Chicago was surprisingly eliminated in the first round by the Nashville Predators. Chicago posted 244 goals during the regular season while allowing 213. Patrick Kane led the team with 34 goals and 55 assists while Artemi Panarin had 31 goals and 43 assists. However, Panarin was traded to Columbus in the offseason as part of a deal for Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg. Saad had 24 goals and 29 assists for the Jackets last season.
Bet on Penguins vs. Blackhawks
Pittsburgh has a tough challenge to be able to play in OT last night and then hit the road to face the Blackhawks in under 24 hours. Pittsburgh has lost six straight against Chicago and lost five straight in Chicago entering tonight’s contest. The Pens are also 3-12 in their last 15 when playing in OT the day before. Chicago should be amped up for its season opener while the Pens will be on tired legs.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS -120