Blackhawks vs Kings

With Chicago on a three-game point streak (2-0-1) after Thursday’s 2-1 win in this same building and Los Angeles skidding on a two-game losing streak, the underdog Blackhawks at +180 offer the better risk-reward despite the Kings’ favorite status at -220. The Kings’ home profile is shaky at 3-6-3, while Chicago has been a respectable 6-4-3 on the road and has earned points in 17 of its last 22 trips to Crypto.com Arena, suggesting this matchup has not been a comfortable home spot for LA. Even with Teuvo Teravainen day-to-day and Laurent Brossoit out, Chicago still ices a dangerous top of the roster with Connor Bedard driving play and Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi in support, while Spencer Knight’s 2.44 GAA and .919 save percentage stabilize the crease; by contrast, a relatively healthy Kings lineup led by Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala has struggled to finish, sitting at just 2.56 goals per game with a last-ranked power play. The Blackhawks’ stronger power play (23.2%) against LA’s sputtering man-advantage (12.9%) is a key swing factor in a game that projects to be decided by one bounce, and with Chicago having already solved Darcy Kuemper once this week, I’m willing to lean into the plus price on the visitors. At +180 this is a value-driven position more than a safety play, so it earns a solid but not elite Grade B. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 06/12/2025 09:47am

The Under 5.5 at -105 looks like the best overall angle on this matchup, given how both recent form and season-long numbers point toward another low-event game. These teams just played to a 2-1 result on Thursday, and the Kings have been in a pattern of tight grinders, averaging only 2.56 goals for and 2.59 against behind Darcy Kuemper’s 2.36 GAA and .910 save percentage, while suppressing shots to 26.4 against per night. Chicago’s offense has been livelier at 3.15 goals per game, but their recent pattern against LA has leaned defensive, and Spencer Knight’s strong underlying numbers plus a penalty kill running at 85.3% should help keep the Kings’ league-worst 12.9% power play in check. Combine that with LA’s 8-3-2 record in one-goal games, both clubs’ comfort in playing to the perimeter, and the familiarity that comes from a quick rematch in the same arena, and you get a recipe where five or fewer total goals is more likely than the line implies; the Under 5.5 at a modest price earns an A- for both probability and value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 06/12/2025 09:47am

Given how closely these teams have played all season, the puckline that makes the most sense is Chicago +1.5 at -155, protecting against a Kings win that still comes by a single goal. Both previous meetings have been one-goal affairs, and Los Angeles has built an 8-3-2 mark in one-goal games while struggling to separate at home, where they are just 3-6-3 despite generally strong defensive metrics. Chicago, meanwhile, comes in with points in three straight and a 6-4-3 road record, buoyed by Spencer Knight’s steady goaltending and a top-end group featuring Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi that has consistently generated enough offense to stay inside numbers even when they don’t win outright. With the Kings fully healthy and still boasting a deep veteran core around Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala, they absolutely can grind out a bounce-back victory, but their combination of low scoring output and tight defensive structure meshes perfectly with a +1.5 position on the Blackhawks, especially given Chicago’s long-term success in this building. The price isn’t cheap but the hit rate projects to be high, landing this pick at a B+ grade. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 06/12/2025 09:47am