Chicago vs Pittsburgh Betting Picks and Prediction

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10 October 2023

Chicago vs Pittsburgh Betting Picks and Prediction

Of the three NHL matchups on the opening night of the 2023-24 season, none are as intriguing as the Chicago Blackhawks vs the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Connor Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and favorite in the NHL odds for the Calder Trophy, begins his career against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night.

Let’s dive right into the betting odds and Chicago vs Pittsburgh betting picks.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds

The Blackhawks, even with the addition of Bedard, are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NHL standings this season. They’re +215 underdogs against the Penguins, which have a retooled roster under new general manager Kyle Dubas. Pittsburgh is a -260 moneyline favorite.

The Blackhawks have a +1.5 (-130) puck line for the Chicago vs Pittsburgh betting picks, while the Penguins have a -1.5 (-110) puck line. The over/under is 6.5, with the over and under paying out -120 and +100, respectively.

Blackhawks vs. Penguins Information

Chicago Blackhawks vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Location of the game: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 10. 8:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN+

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Analysis

Chicago Blackhawks Performance Recap and Analysis

The Blackhawks finished the preseason with a 2-2-2 record, scoring 14 goals and allowing 20. They were 0-2-1 in three road games.

The team finished tied for second-last in the NHL standings in 2022-23 with just 59 points and ranked last in goals per game at just 2.44. Bedard, along with offseason acquisitions Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno, should improve that.

Looking at the NHL player stats, Bedard had one goal and four assists in four exhibition games.

Key Injuries

Chicago has four players on the NHL injury report, including centers Colin Blackwell and 23-year-old Philipp Kurashev, who was expected to center the team’s second line and second power-play unit. The Chicago Blackhawks roster is relatively thin as it is.

Betting Trends to Know

It’s been fairly even in prior Chicago vs Pittsburgh betting picks.
The Blackhawks won the last meeting between the two teams in April of last season, while the two teams split the prior six games.

Pittsburgh Penguins Performance Recap and Analysis

Looking at the past Pittsburgh Penguins schedule, they finished the preseason with a 3-3-1 record in seven games. They scored 20 goals and allowed 20 goals. They were 2-2 in four home games. The Penguins are hoping for a bounce-back season after missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

They added Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks in the offseason and signed free agents Matt Nieto, Ryan Graves, and Lars Eller.

Key Injuries

Pittsburgh may be without winger Jake Guentzel, who is a game-time decision with an ankle injury.

Betting Trends to Know

The Penguins were 23-13-5 at home last season.
Looking at the past NHL stats, they’re 3-4 in their last seven regular-season games against the Blackhawks.

It looks like we are in for one of the better games on the NHL schedule today.

Blackhawks vs. Penguins Betting Picks

Now that we know all there is about the teams let’s move on to our NHL picks.

Moneyline: Pittsburgh is a great team at home and seems poised for a rebound season with its new additions. They should have little trouble winning their home opener tonight.
Over/Under: There’s a lot of offensive potential in this game, and defensive systems usually take time to settle early in the season, so the over 6.5 (-120) is a great bet.
Spread: It’s a little early to expect much out of the Blackhawks. Bedard may find the scoresheet tonight, but it’s likely the Penguins cover the -1.5 (-110) puck line.