Chicago Blackhawks vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins aim to conclude their season on a high note, facing a Blackhawks squad that recently snapped a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh on April 6. Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Penguins have shown resilience, winning two of their last five games. Chicago's lineup is bolstered by the return of top-line center Connor Bedard, who contributed an assist in the recent win against Pittsburgh. The Penguins' veteran core, including Evgeni Malkin—who has tallied four goals in his last three games against Chicago—brings experience and chemistry to the matchup. Historically, Pittsburgh has performed well in late-season encounters with Chicago, winning five of their last six meetings at PPG Paints Arena. With both teams out of playoff contention, pride is the primary motivator, favoring the seasoned Penguins lineup. At -210 odds, the return is modest, making this bet more suitable for parlay inclusion than high-stakes single wagers. Recommendation: Take Pittsburgh to win on the Moneyline, Grade: B-. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins return to PPG Paints Arena aiming to finish strong, despite being eliminated from playoff contention and coming off a recent 3-1 loss to the Blackhawks on April 6. Pittsburgh sits at 31–35 and has now lost three of its last four, showing signs of fatigue down the stretch. On the other side, Chicago enters this one with renewed confidence after snapping a five-game skid with that win, but they’ve still lost seven of their last nine and continue to struggle generating sustained offense. Pittsburgh will be without defenseman Marcus Pettersson (lower body), a key absence for a blue line that’s lacked stability all season. Chicago, meanwhile, remains without forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Philipp Kurashev, further thinning a group already missing top-line consistency. While Sidney Crosby has dominated the Blackhawks historically—15 points in his last 8 meetings—Pittsburgh’s scoring depth took a hit with Jake Guentzel’s departure at the deadline and a quieter stretch from Evgeni Malkin. With both teams eliminated and starters like Petr Mrazek and Tristan Jarry likely in net, this matchup shapes up as more controlled than explosive. The Under 6.5 at plus money offers fair value, particularly with top-end finishing talent limited or absent. Still, late-season unpredictability keeps this in moderate-risk territory. Odds and availability are subject to change.

With Sidney Crosby still skating like it’s 2010, the Penguins return home looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch, even though they’ve already been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The Blackhawks recently snapped a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over these same Penguins on April 6, but their 22–45 record still reflects a team playing out the string. Connor Bedard remains Chicago’s lone bright spot and returned to the lineup just in time to deliver an assist in that recent win. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh sits at 31–35 and has dropped three of its last four, with inconsistent goaltending and the absence of Jake Guentzel (traded to Carolina in March) dulling their scoring edge. Bryan Rust has stepped up offensively, and Crosby continues to produce, especially against Chicago—he has 10 points in his last five games versus the Hawks. Still, with both teams out of the playoff picture and the Penguins offering only short bursts of consistency, the -1.5 puckline at +118 is a high-variance play. It carries some value based on Pittsburgh’s roster edge, but given their current trajectory and the fact that Chicago just beat them, this bet is downgraded to a B- grade. Odds and availability are subject to change.