The Chicago Blackhawks, led by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, are prepared to take the ice against Tomas Tatar, Max Domi, and the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre in an Original Six tilt. Sportsnet will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 15.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Chicago (+150) is currently the underdog to Montreal (-170) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Chicago is 21-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 47 regular season outings, 23 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team in 2019-20, the Hawks are 10-12 SU.
Chicago has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. Having said that, it has the ninth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties..
Sporting a .923 save percentage and 32.0 saves per game, Robin Lehner (14-13-5) has been the primary option in goal for Chicago this year. Lehner did just play last night, however, so head coach Jeremy Colliton may opt to rest him and roll with Corey Crawford instead (7-16-2 record, .906 save percentage, 3.09 goals against average).
Montreal is 20-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 47 regular season contests, 23 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 9-15 SU at home.
The Canadiens have converted on just 20.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all penalties.
Carey Price (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary selection in the crease for the Canadiens. Price has 18 wins, 20 losses, and four OT losses and has registered a fairly-weak .907 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average this year.
Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
The Canadiens are 2-1 in games that go to shootout. The Blackhawks are 2-4 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in four of Montreal’s last five outings.
The Canadiens have averaged the league’s most shots on goal (35.0) while the Blackhawks have attempted the 20th-most (only 35.0).
This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Chicago skaters have given out the league’s seventh-most hits per game (24.3) and the Canadiens have handed the fifth-most (27.4).
