Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Vancouver Canucks (20-9-1, 2nd in Pacific Division) travel to Illinois to take on the Chicago Blackhawks (9-19-1, 8th in Central Division) on Sunday afternoon at United Center. The Canucks have won each of their three matchups with the Blackhawks in 2023, including a 4-2 victory in Chicago. The puck drops at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
*Please note, results from the game played by the Canucks on Saturday are not included in this article.
Canucks win fourth straight
The Canucks have won each of their last four games, including a 4-0 victory against the Florida Panthers in Vancouver on Thursday. Goalie Thatcher Demko turned away 36 Florida shots to preserve the shutout. Center Dakota Joshua scored twice in the win. Vancouver goaltending has been on point this week, limiting opponents to one goal or less in three of four games.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet on his team after the game:
“We’re still trying to establish our identity. We’re chipping away at it and trying to be a hard team to play against, being smart in our own end. We’re still learning. There’s still some times when we’re giving the puck away when we shouldn’t, but I think that’s part of the maturation to get to the next level.”
Demko made 36 saves for his 3rd shutout of the season, while Joshua tallied two in the 4-0 #Canucks win over the Panthers!@MichelobULTRACA HIGHLIGHTS | https://t.co/vnbyc4uwkMpic.twitter.com/qBUkKeQn9D
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 15, 2023
Key injuries: No current injuries that will affect the game are being reported by Vancouver.
Blackhawks lose again
Chicago lost their third straight game when they fell to the Seattle Kraken 7-1 on Thursday evening. Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom had a tough night, allowing seven goals on only 24 shots before being replaced in the third period. Seattle scored twice in the first period off of Soderblom and never looked back. The Chicago offense has been struggling to put the puck in the back of the net, scoring two goals or less in four of their last five games. They currently rank 31st among their peers in average goals scored per game.
Defenseman Taylor Raddish, who scored his fifth goal of the season in the loss, on the blowout:
“It's frustrating. You never want to perform like that," Raddysh said. "I think we're a better group than that and we should be a group that comes ready and hungry every day wanting to prove to teams that we're ready to work. I feel like we have a lot more to show than that and we didn't do that tonight.”
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 15, 2023
Key injuries: Defenseman Alex Vlasic is day-t0-day with an injury. RW MacKenezie Entwistle and defenseman Seth Jones are both out for the game.
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Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
The Canucks have dominated the Blackhawks in recent years, winning each of their last four matchups. They have won three straight at United Center and they shut out the Blackhawks in Vancouver 3-0 in their last meeting earlier this year. The Canucks have an elite offense this season, ranking first in the NHL in goals scored per game while the Blackhawks rank near the very bottom of the league in several key offense categories. Chicago may lack the firepower to remain competitive in this contest if they find themselves behind early. Adding to Chicago's woes, Canucks goaltenders rank in the top 10 in save percentage. Vancouver has won over 50% of their road games this season and they have won two of their previous three games away from their home stadium while the Blackhawks have lost over 60% of their games at United Center. The trends strongly support a comfortable Vancouver victory on the road Sunday.
Take Vancouver.
Prediction: Vancouver -1.5 Goals
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
Five of the previous six matchups between these two squads went under the goal total, including three goals scored during their last meeting earlier this year. The Blackhawks rank towards the bottom of the league in several key offensive categories, so the odds they score quickly in bunches and add significant points to the total are low. Canucks goaltenders rank third in the league in save percentage and third overall in goals allowed per game, so they certainly have the skills to limit Chicago's contribution to the total. The Blackhawks have gone under the goal total in four of their previous five games overall and three straight at home. Most signs point to a lower-scoring affair in Chicago on Sunday.
Take the under.
Prediction: Under 6 Goals
Greg analyzed and interpreted data and published reports on his findings that were used by some of the largest financial institutions in the United States to better understand how to service and retain their customers. He then parlayed his experience with data analysis into launching one of the most visited toy and collectible retail sites during the internet boom of the early 2000s. He now brings 20+ years of analyzing trends and data to StatSalt & Winners & Whiners.
