Blackhawks vs Golden Knights

Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights host Connor Bedard’s Blackhawks with both teams trying to build on much-needed bounce-back wins, as Vegas just snapped a four-game skid against San Jose while Chicago halted a five-game slide by roaring back from 3-0 down versus Anaheim. With Vegas sitting 11-6-8 and 6-4-4 at home behind balanced scoring from Eichel, Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner, and Chicago at 11-9-5 but only 5-4-2 on the road despite Bedard’s 37-point breakout, the Knights still project as the more trustworthy side in terms of defensive structure and goaltending. Chicago’s forward depth is nicked up with Teuvo Teravainen dealing with an undisclosed issue and Nick Foligno on injured reserve, while Vegas’ only current listed injury is depth blueliner Jeremy Lauzon, tilting the health edge toward the home side. Add in Vegas’ long-term dominance of this matchup — including multi-goal wins in both meetings last season as part of a 19-5-2 all-time record against Chicago — and the case for the Golden Knights moneyline is clear, even if the -292 price tag demands a high win rate and limits upside. I’m backing Vegas on the moneyline but only grading it a B due to the heavy juice and modest value relative to the risk. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 02/12/2025 09:47am

This matchup sets up as another potentially wild one after the teams combined for 7-5 and 5-3 Vegas wins in last season’s meetings, and both clubs enter with offensive trends that support a higher-total game. Chicago is averaging 3.20 goals per night behind Bedard’s elite playmaking and Tyler Bertuzzi’s finishing, but they’ve also allowed 3.3 goals per game over their last ten while taking plenty of penalties, which could be a major issue against a Golden Knights power play clicking above 24 percent and driven by Eichel and Hertl. Vegas scores 3.04 goals per game and has been involved in a string of tight but open contests lately, including the 4-3 win over the Sharks that finally stopped their losing streak, and their home ice typically encourages a faster, chance-heavy style when they get rolling. With both attacks in good form, special teams on each side among the league’s better units, and recent head-to-head history skewing toward high totals, I like Over 6 at -115 and grade it a B+, reflecting a strong probability of at least six goals with a decent chance of pushing past that number for a full win. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 02/12/2025 09:47am

Given how often Vegas has turned territorial control into multi-goal wins against Chicago, the puckline offers a more appealing risk-reward profile than the steep moneyline in this spot. The Golden Knights have taken 19 of 26 all-time meetings (including playoffs) and frequently by more than one goal, as shown by last season’s 7-5 and 5-3 victories where their depth scoring from players like Ivan Barbashev, Brett Howden and Victor Olofsson overwhelmed the Hawks despite strong individual efforts from Chicago forwards. While Bedard and a revitalized top six have improved Chicago’s overall goal differential to +8, their defensive lapses and heavy penalty minutes on the road still crop up, and missing a veteran presence like Foligno — plus the uncertainty around Teravainen — reduces their margin for error against Vegas’ layered attack and home-ice matchup advantage. With Vegas getting back on track after their recent slide and still profiling as the deeper, more structured side, I’m comfortable taking the Knights -1.5 at -110, grading the puckline a B as a higher-variance but better-value way to back the favorite than laying the big moneyline price. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 02/12/2025 09:47am