The United Center plays host to an Original Six showdown as the New York Rangers face off against the Chicago Blackhawks. NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast the matchup, and the action gets going at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 25.
New York Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago enters the game as the obvious favorite with a -165 moneyline. The line for New York sits at +145 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
Chicago is 5-4 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.3 units this season. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement compared to what the team did during the 2017-18 season (33-49). Through nine regular season outings, six of the team’s games have gone over the total, while three have gone under and none have pushed. Thus far, the team’s 2-3 SU at home.
The Blackhawks have successfully converted on 12.9 percent of their power play chances thus far. That’s a big drop-off from last year, when they were ranked 28th in the league by scoring on 16.0 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 78.8 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 20th overall last season) to 75.0 percent this year.
The Blackhawks, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.4 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the fifth-best mark in the league with 3.3 penalties per game. After serving an average of 7.5 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 6.9 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 33.5 saves per game with a .885 save percentage, Cam Ward (3-3-2) has been the top option in goal for Chicago this season. If Chicago chooses to give him a breather, however, the team might turn to Corey Crawford (2-1-1 record, .946 save percentage, 1.69 goals against average).
Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat will both lead the offensive attack for the Blackhawks. Kane (13 points) has tallied eight goals and five assists while DeBrincat has seven goals and five assists to his credit so far in the season’s early going.
On the other bench, New York is 3-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of six of its outings have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. As an away team so far, the Rangers are 0-3 SU.
The Broadway Blueshirts have scored on 23.3 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 21.2 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a mark that was just better than the league average). The team has gone from killing off 81.4 percent of opponent power plays (ranked eighth overall last season) to 72.4 percent in 2018-19.
New York’s players have been penalized 4.6 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed some from the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 11.0 minutes per outing this year.
Henrik Lundqvist (2.55 goals against average and .921 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for New York. Lundqvist is averaging 29.9 saves per game and owns a 2-5-1 record.
Mika Zibanejad (five goals, four assists) and Mats Zuccarello (two goals, six assists) are the top point-getters for New York and will pace the offensive attack for the visiting Rangers.
New York Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
After posting a 3-5 record in games decided by a shootout last year, New York is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Chicago went 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The under has hit in three of Chicago’s last five games.
New York has managed 33.3 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago has been attempting 37.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
New York skaters registered 20.9 hits per game last season, while the Hawks logged 16.8 hits per contest.
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