The Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks have been perennial Western Conference contenders this decade and met in one terrific conference finals back in 2015. However, the former powers both look a bit old this season and could miss the playoffs entirely. They meet Thursday in Chicago with it an opening pick’em in the NHL betting lines.
Adam Henrique pulled Anaheim within a goal with 3:54 left in the game. The Ducks took goaltender John Gibson off the ice with a minute remaining in regulation to have an extra skater, but couldn’t score to extend the game. Henrique now has three points in his last four for the Ducks. The forward has 17 goals and 34 points in 57 games played this season. The Ducks have been erratic all season with the man advantage and failed to convert against the league’s 26th-ranked penalty kill.
Gibson made 14 saves on 16 shots. He lost in regulation for the first time in six appearances and his record fell to 19-15-6 with a 2.58 GAA and a .922 save percentage. According to hockey-reference.com’s playoff probabilities, the Ducks chances of making the playoffs dropped to 30.1% with the loss. Their projected point total is only 91.8.
“The last week or so here has been a little bit frustrating at the way I feel we’re out there competing,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “Not at the level I think our group is capable of. We have an opportunity to really push for the playoffs here now, but we got to do it now. We can’t wait.”
Alex DeBrincat picked up a goal with an assist and a blocked shot over 15:41 of ice time in the loss. The rookie has been a rare bright spot, has scored in back-to-back games, and he has seven goals with nine points across the past nine outings. Tommy Wingels picked up a power-play goal to open the scoring. Wingels snapped a 14-game point drought with the marker, and it was his first time lighting the lamp since Dec. 17.
Jeff Glass allowed four goals on 36 shots. And that’s it for the former minor-league journeyman. Glass has been placed on waivers by the team. Glass didn’t make his NHL debut until this season at age 32 but has struggled at that level. He has a 3-6-3 record, 3.31 GAA, and .898 save percentage in 14 contests. The Blackhawks might call up J.F. Berube in place of Glass as No. 1 Corey Crawford is still on the sidelines.
Chicago’s six-game skid at the United Center is the team’s longest there since 2005. They are not getting enough goals from captain Jonathan Toews, not a steady defensive presence from Brent Seabrook and not being bailed out by Crawford, who has been sidelined since Christmas with what is vaguely described as an “upper-body injury.”
Crawford, who has begun skating only recently after being away from the team with post-concussion symptoms, was having a Vezina-caliber season (16-9-2, .929 save percentage, 2.27 GAA). Chicago has yet to find a replacement who can fill his pads.
Ducks at Blackhawks NHL Betting Lines & Game Info – February 15th
When: Thursday, 8:30 PM ET Where: United Center, Chicago TV: NHL Center Ice, FSW2, CSNC Radio: 830 AM (Anaheim) / 720 AM (Chicago) Opening NHL Betting Lines: Hawks -110, Ducks -110 (5.5)Season Series
It’s the second of three meetings with the Blackhawks going to Anaheim on March 4. They met on Nov. 27 in Chicago and the Blackhawks played one of their best offensive games of the year in a 7-3 victory. Chicago rookie Alex DeBrincat had three goals and an assist, and Patrick Sharp stopped a 16-game scoring drought. DeBrincat became the second-youngest player in franchise history to record a hat trick, trailing Jeremy Roenick by four days. Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists and Artem Anisimov scored for Chicago. Patrick Kane had three assists. The Ducks were missing a few key guys due to injury. Chris Wagner had two goals for Anaheim, and Jakob Silfverberg had a goal and an assist. John Gibson made 18 saves on 22 shots before he was replaced by Ryan Miller in the second period.Latest NHL Betting Trends
- Anaheim is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- Anaheim is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Anaheim’s last 12 games on the road
- Chicago is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- Chicago is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Chicago’s last 15 games at home
Why Bet on Anaheim’s NHL Betting Lines?
The Ducks are fighting for a wild-card spot but on a two-game losing streak. They lost 2-1 at Detroit on Tuesday to start a four-game trip. The Ducks were dominant in the first, outshooting Detroit 16-5, and still trailed after Dylan Larkin scored off Kevin Bieksa’s giveaway in front of net with 6:28 left in the period.Adam Henrique pulled Anaheim within a goal with 3:54 left in the game. The Ducks took goaltender John Gibson off the ice with a minute remaining in regulation to have an extra skater, but couldn’t score to extend the game. Henrique now has three points in his last four for the Ducks. The forward has 17 goals and 34 points in 57 games played this season. The Ducks have been erratic all season with the man advantage and failed to convert against the league’s 26th-ranked penalty kill.
Gibson made 14 saves on 16 shots. He lost in regulation for the first time in six appearances and his record fell to 19-15-6 with a 2.58 GAA and a .922 save percentage. According to hockey-reference.com’s playoff probabilities, the Ducks chances of making the playoffs dropped to 30.1% with the loss. Their projected point total is only 91.8.
“The last week or so here has been a little bit frustrating at the way I feel we’re out there competing,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “Not at the level I think our group is capable of. We have an opportunity to really push for the playoffs here now, but we got to do it now. We can’t wait.”
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.78
- Shots: 30.45
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.39
- Goals: 2.86
- Shots: 33.16
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.75
Why Bet on Chicago’s NHL Betting Lines?
The dynasty is over in Chicago, which has won three Stanley Cups this season but will miss the playoffs barring a miracle – and likely finishes last in the Central Division. The Hawks lost their seventh straight game on Tuesday, 5-2 at Vegas. Chicago has scored more than two goals just once in the skid. It actually led Vegas 2-1 entering the third. The Blackhawks have been outscored 29-12 during their losing streak.Alex DeBrincat picked up a goal with an assist and a blocked shot over 15:41 of ice time in the loss. The rookie has been a rare bright spot, has scored in back-to-back games, and he has seven goals with nine points across the past nine outings. Tommy Wingels picked up a power-play goal to open the scoring. Wingels snapped a 14-game point drought with the marker, and it was his first time lighting the lamp since Dec. 17.
Jeff Glass allowed four goals on 36 shots. And that’s it for the former minor-league journeyman. Glass has been placed on waivers by the team. Glass didn’t make his NHL debut until this season at age 32 but has struggled at that level. He has a 3-6-3 record, 3.31 GAA, and .898 save percentage in 14 contests. The Blackhawks might call up J.F. Berube in place of Glass as No. 1 Corey Crawford is still on the sidelines.
Chicago’s six-game skid at the United Center is the team’s longest there since 2005. They are not getting enough goals from captain Jonathan Toews, not a steady defensive presence from Brent Seabrook and not being bailed out by Crawford, who has been sidelined since Christmas with what is vaguely described as an “upper-body injury.”
Crawford, who has begun skating only recently after being away from the team with post-concussion symptoms, was having a Vezina-caliber season (16-9-2, .929 save percentage, 2.27 GAA). Chicago has yet to find a replacement who can fill his pads.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.81
- Shots: 34.49
- PP/PK Percentage: 15.87
- Goals: 2.91
- Shots: 32.21
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.98
