NHL Hockey Betting: Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks

Western Conference matchup on a short schedule for Sunday as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center. The Canucks have taken points in six of their last ten games (4-4-2) and are currently tied with Arizona for second place in the Pacific Division with 30 points. They’ve got a ways to go to catch first place Los Angeles, ten points ahead with 40 points but the rest of the division is very competitive. Only three points separate second place Arizona and Vancouver with last place Anaheim. Meanwhile, the two hottest teams in the division are fifth place Calgary and sixth place Edmonton, both riding five game winning streaks.

Chicago is in a similar situation caught in the middle of the pack in the brutally competitive Central Division. The Blackhawks are 5-3-2 in their last ten games and currently tied for third place with Minnesota. That puts them 10 points back of first place Dallas but just two back of second place St. Louis. They’re only one point ahead of fifth place Nashville. The Blackhawks are coming off a 2-0 win at home over Winnipeg on Friday in which Patrick Kane extended his consecutive game points streak to 26. The Blackhawks play four of their next six games at home while Vancouver is starting a six game road trip that will take them up to the Christmas break.

Vancouver has played just over .500 hockey on the road this year but they have taken points in 11 of 16 road games with a record of 6-5-5. Chicago is one of the best home ice teams in the NHL with a record of 11-3-1. Washington and Dallas are the only other teams in the league with just 3 losses on home ice. For whatever reason, the Blackhawks are 3-0 on Sunday this year while the Canucks are 0-3. More significantly, Vancouver is a woeful 4-11 against opponents with winning records while Chicago is 9-3 against teams under .500.

The Canucks have a slight edge head to head winning 4 of the last 7 including 2 of 3 in Chicago. Vancouver won the only meeting this season, beating Chicago 6-3 at Rogers Arena on 11/21. Just think the Blackhawks are the better team this point and have been very strong on home ice.

BET CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS -175 OVER VANCOUVER CANUCKS