The Blackhawks host the Penguins coming out of the holiday break. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here with Last Word On Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for games around the NHL. In tonight’s matchup, Chicago looks to snap a six-game losing streak against a struggling Pittsburgh squad.
NHL Predictions: Chicago Blackhawks vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0-0 Penguins
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
How to Watch: Sportsnet+, SNE, TVAS, CHSN, SN-PIT
Spencer Knight and the Chicago Blackhawks host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Penguins Story
Pittsburgh comes into this game off of a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the loss, Pittsburgh is 1-5-4 in their last 10 games. With a record of 15-12-9 this season, Pittsburgh has plummeted down the standings, currently sitting third last in the Eastern Conference. They are just three points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are last in the East. The biggest reason for this complete collapse has been the regression of the Penguins defence. Earlier in the Penguins got away with more due to better puck luck and the stellar performance of goaltender Tristan Jarry. However, their anemic defence has caught up to them, and they are now looking like a bottom-feeding team.
Even with the difficult season, captain Sidney Crosby continues to be a top-of-the-line player. He has 38 points in 36 games, including 20 goals. Past Crosby, however, there has been a drop-off in scoring depth. Finally overtaking the injured Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust is now second on the team with 13 goals and 30 points in 34 games. From the back-end, Erik Karlsson is producing offence, scoring three goals and 26 points in 36 games. Watch for Rust, Karlsson and Rickard Rakell to begin appearing in trade rumours as we inch towards the trade deadline. In net, expect Stuart Skinner to get the start. Skinner has appeared in three games for the Penguins, going 0-3-0 with a .831 save percentage. He’ll be looking to rebound from his dipping stats to hopefully get moved to a contender near the deadline.
Blackhawks Story
Chicago comes into this game off a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. With the loss, the Blackhawks are 2-8-0 in their last 10, and have lost 6 straight games. Missing Connor Bedard as of late, Chicago is 13-17-6 on the season. This record places them in a tie for bottom of the Western Conference and a tie for bottom of the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks. A large part of this fall off has been the absence of Connor Bedard, who was injured just a few weeks ago, as well as the recent injury of Frank Nazar, another offensive weapon for the Blackhawks. As the Blackhawks looked to begin coming out of their rebuild, it seems as though this will be the final year that they’ll be bottoming out before hoping to begin climbing up the standings next season.
Although he is out with injury, Connor Bedard by far leads Chicago in points. In the 31 games he has played, Bedard has 19 goals and 44 points. Veteran forward Tyler Bertuzzi is second on the Hawks in points, he has 16 goals and 26 points and 33 games. The aforementioned Frank Nazar has had a solid sophomore season in the NHL. He has six goals and 21 points in 33 games. Look out for former second-overall pick defenceman Artyom Levshunov. A big body capable of two-way play, Levshunov will be a crucial factor in the Blackhawks’ game plan against Pittsburgh. In net, expect Spencer Knight to get the start. In his first full season with Chicago, Knight has turned heads with a 10-5-5 record and a .914 save percentage. Knight looks like he is turning into a solid goalie of the future for the Blackhawks, giving them one more position they have figured out for the long term.
NHL Prediction
Although both teams are struggling heavily at the moment, the Blackhawks have a ton of injuries to battle through. Without their best players, including Connor Bedard, Chicago will be hard-pressed to get the victory in this one. Expect Pittsburgh to come away with a victory.
NHL Prediction: Penguins win 5-3
Prop Bet of the Night
Expect a higher scoring game in this one between two teams that kind of struggle with defence. A popular prop bet of goals over seven with odds of +198 is a good bet.
Main photo by: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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