Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club 10/8/24 – As the NHL regular season heats up, a stark contrast in preseason performance sets the stage for an intriguing matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks (1-4-1) and the newly established Utah Hockey Club (5-2-0). Set to face off on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:00 PM ET at the Delta Center and broadcast on ESPN, this game marks Utah’s regular season debut against a struggling Chicago team. Here are the NHL free predictions todayfor what promises to be a compelling game.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club 10/8/24
When: Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:00 PM ET
Where: Delta Center
TV: ESPN
Stream: NHL.TV
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club 10/8/24 Betting Odds:
| Team | PUCKLINE | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhawks | +1.5 (-165) | 6 over (-120) | +135 |  |
| Hockey | -1.5 (+140) | 6 under (+100) | -160 | |
| ||||
one more sleep ☝️ pic.twitter.com/fRqDMgR46Q
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 8, 2024
The betting odds reflect a cautious approach towards the Blackhawks, who’ve had a rough preseason and struggle on the road, set against the optimism surrounding the debut of Utah Hockey Club. Utah’s entry into the regular season comes with a promising preseason record, making them favorites in this matchup.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek vs. Goaltender Connor Ingram
Blackhawks’ netminder Petr Mrazek comes into this season after having a very difficult year which saw him record a .908 save percentage. Having never played against this team before (but witnessing their good pre-season), Mrazek’s background may be instrumental in stopping the Utah offensive onslaught. Still, it’s not common, but it may be useful for him to have to do shootouts as a situation.
Connor Ingram, on the other hand, let’s see who will stand between the pipes for Utah. Almost identical in save percentage to Mrazek’s 0.907, and slightly lower in goals against average, Ingram seems to be able to keep Utah’s defense against the Blackhawks who have been having a hard time hitting the target for some time. Ingram will be of great importance in introducing the image of Utah most probably right from the start.
Struggling Stars and Tactical Adjustments
Connor Bedard is the leading scorer for the Blackhawks, although it’s worth noting that last season he scored 61 points and had a -44 plus/minus rating, which is not due to the forward’s offensive capabilities. With him on the team, Philipp Kurashev and Nick Foligno will have to vastly improve their performance too. In this game, the Chicago trophy holders are expected to heavily depend on the leaders in terms of scoring and will try to improve the defensive play at the same time.
A Promising Start
Utah’s top scorer, Clayton Keller, along with Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole, presents a formidable front that has capitalized well in the preseason. Their ability to convert on power plays and maintain a solid defense will be vital against the Blackhawks, who have shown susceptibility to giving up goals.
Trends
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
Chicago are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games.
Blackhawks are 3-17 SU in their last 20 games on the road.
Chicago are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Western Conference conference.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Chicago’s last 13 games against an opponent in the Central Division division.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago’s last 9 games played in October.
Utah Hockey Club Betting Trends
Utah does not have regular-season trends as a new team, but their strong preseason showing offers a glimpse into their potential resilience and capacity to challenge established teams.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club Betting Picks
Considering the offensive and defensive aspects of both teams and the importance of these aspects on betting, it appears that Utah Hockey Club should have a profitable campaign against the inept Chicago Blackhawks. With the history of Chicago being a bad road team and the Utah team having some fresh legs in on the rosters, the team will most likely cover the spread against Utah. Also, looking at the total trends, under betting should be considered.
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Score Prediction: Utah Hockey Club 3, Blackhawks 2.
