Tonight’s NHL action brings us an Original Six matchup as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both clubs enter this game having dropped two games in a row, but one of them will get a much-needed win tonight. Find out who that will be below, as I break this game down and make my Blackhawks vs Maple Leafs prediction on the ice.
Our Blackhawks vs Maple Leafs Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks vs Toronto Maple Leafs
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Maple Leafs have gone 2-3 in their last five, a slight improvement over Chicago’s 1-4 record over their last five outings. Toronto’s home record has been solid at 9-5-5, and they hold a slight edge in goals scored, though the Leafs also give up more goals per game than Chicago. The Blackhawks have struggled to maintain consistency, particularly on the road, where they are 6-7-3 and losers in their last three road games.
Goaltending
Toronto’s crease situation is interesting at this point in time, with veteran Joseph Woll sidelined with a lower-body injury and requiring reinforcements from the AHL. Dennis Hildeby has been decent in net for the Leafs recently, though he also doesn’t have a large sample size for us to rely on. Chicago will counter with Spencer Knight in goal. Knight has played well this year, entering this contest with a 2.52 GAA that ranks 15th in the league and a .915 save percentage that ranks 9th.
Key skaters
William Nylander has led the Leafs this season with 34 points and a team-high 23 assists. Auston Matthews remains important to Toronto on offense, though his production this season has dipped and he’s spoken openly about frustrations with the team’s inconsistent play. Chicago is missing Connor Bedard due to a shoulder injury, eliminating their top offensive threat. They have scored just six goals over their last five games, thanks in part to the absence of Bedard.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | |
| William Nylander | |
| Easton Cowan |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Blackhawks won the first game between these teams this season by a score of 3-2 in Chicago.
- The Maple Leafs are 12-19 on the puckline so far this season.
- Toronto has gone over the total in 19 of their first 31 games.
- The Blackhawks are 23-9 in the puckline market this year.
- Chicago’s games have stayed under the total 18 times in 32 outings.

