The Chicago Blackhawks (12-9-6) and Anaheim Ducks (17-10-1) meet Sunday. Puck drop from Honda Center in Anaheim, California, is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blackhawks vs. Ducks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Chicago leads 2-0
Chicago was routed 6-0 (Over 5.5) at the LA Kings Saturday night. Playing at the Kings for a second straight game (Dec. 4), the Blackhawks were outshot 32-23 but mostly had things go sideways late. Five of LA’s 6 goals came over the final 25 minutes of play.
The Ducks head into Sunday’s game after an off day. They last played Friday, defeating the -135 Washington Capitals 4-3 (Over 6.5). Anaheim has alternated losses and wins over its last 8 games; that stretch includes a 5-3 loss at Chicago Nov. 30.
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Blackhawks at Ducks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:33 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blackhawks +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Ducks -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +1.5 (-140) | Ducks -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Blackhawks at Ducks projected goalies
Arvid Soderblom (3-4-1, 3.53 GAA, .879 SV%) vs. Ville Husso (3-2-0, 3.28 GAA, .859 SV%)
Soderblom last played Nov. 28, and with Chicago’s No. 1 Spencer Knight performing well of late, he has been between the pipes only twice since Nov. 19.
With 2 Duck netminders on the shelf, Husso has already played in 3 games this month. He was between the pipes in Friday’s game against the Caps and allowed 3 goals while making 18 saves. The 30-year-old owns a .901 SV% across 150 career games.
Blackhawks at Ducks picks and predictions
Prediction
Ducks 3, Blackhawks 2
No interest; PASS.
This series has seen the ‘Hawks win 3 in a row, 4 of the last 5 and 6 of the last 8.
Chicago has yielded 5-plus goals in a single game twice this season. The Blackhawks yielded a combined 4 goals in the 2 contests immediately following. The club is closing out a 4-game road swing, and on 1 previous such trip of 3 games or more, the ‘Hawks finished off the trip with a 5-1 win (Nov. 9 at Detroit Red Wings).
Over recent weeks, Chicago has been very leaky defensively in 5-on-5 play. And looking under the hood, perhaps that’s undeservedly so. The club’s expected-goals-allowed mark over that stretch has been league-average and is actually an improvement over the defensive analytics it cranked out in the first month of the season.
Anaheim’s overall performance comes up with a slight fade tilt. And when the Ducks coughed up an early lead and lost to the Blackhawks in Chicago Nov. 30, the ‘Hawks netted 2 power-play goals. Over its last 9 games, Anaheim has yielded a 28.6% mark on opponents’ extra-man chances.
CHICAGO +1.5 (-140) is the value side.
The last 10 ‘Hawks-Ducks games have seen the Under go 7-3.
Both sides have some puck-possession and expected-goal numbers over recent weeks that reveal some bad luck in overall defensive results. Tighter defensive numbers can be expected. The Nov. 30 meeting at United Center got chippy. Look for the 2 sides to grind in a defensive tussle in this Sunday night’er.
TAKE THE UNDER 6.5 (+100).
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