Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks and predictions
The Chicago Blackhawks (25-49-6) travel to meet the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-30-10) Tuesday. Puck drop from PPG Paints Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blackhawks vs. Penguins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blackhawks are in freefall, dropping the last 3 games and going 1-11 in the last 12 outings. Chicago fell at home 5-3 in the 1st regular-season meeting with Pittsburgh at United Center on Nov. 20.
The Penguins have 90 points, currently 1 point out of the final Wild-Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 2 games remaining in the regular season. The Pens have won 4 of the last 5 games at home, while going 18-6 in the last 24 outings against Western Conference foes.
Blackhawks at Penguins odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:09 a.m. ET.
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Blackhawks at Penguins projected goalies
Petr Mrazek (9-22-3, 3.71 GAA, .892 SV%) vs. Tristan Jarry (24-12-6, 2.89 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO)
Mrazek coughed up 7 goals on 31 shots in a 7-3 setback against the Seattle Kraken last time out on Saturday. He did pick up a win in his prior start at Calgary last Tuesday, a rare win. Mrazek has just the 1 victory in the last 10 starts and 11 appearances since Feb. 25.
Jarry made 19 saves last time out in a 5-1 win Saturday on the road against the Detroit Red Wings, and he has victories in each of his last 2 starts. He is 2-2-0 with a 2.77 GAA and .908 SV% in 4 starts in April.
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Blackhawks at Penguins picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 5, Blackhawks 1
The Penguins (-450) will cost you 4 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just way too expensive even though the Blackhawks (+350) have been horrifically bad lately.
PASS.
The PENGUINS -2.5 (+100) are a decent play at even-money on the puck line.
Pittsburgh is playing for a playoff spot still, and it is likely to be playing with quite a bit of desperation against a bad team. This is an easy 2 points the Pens cannot afford to squander. Pittsburgh has won by 3 or more goals in each of the last 2 outings, posting an average margin of victory by 3.5 GPG.
The UNDER 6.5 (-120) is the play.
The Under is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings in Pittsburgh. The Under has cashed in 4 straight games for the Pens, too, while going 9-1 in the last 10 games against Central Division teams, and 5-1 in the last 6 contests against Western Conference opponents, too.
