Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Picks & Predictions 1/6/2019

Sunday, January 6, 2019

PPG Paints Arena

Get todays NHL hockey odds on this game.

The Chicago Blackhawks travel to PPG Paints Arena to play the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, January 6, 2019. The opening line for this game has the Blackhawks at +200 and the Penguins at -245.

Chicago has a record of 15-21-7 this season. They are 6th in the Central Division. They've scored 123 goals and given up 156 goals for a point differential of -33. For the season they have an ATS record of 15-28-0 and an over/under record of 23-17-0. Pittsburgh is 23-12-6 this season. They are 2nd in the Metropolitan Division. They have scored 144 goals and surrendered 117 for a goal differential of +27. Their record against the spread is 22-18-0 while their over/under record is 18-17-0.

Valuable Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends

The Chicago Blackhawks are 15-28-0 straight up this year

The Chicago Blackhawks are 23-17-0 against the over/under this season

Important Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 22-18-0 straight up this year

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 18-17-0 against the over/under this season

Key Chicago Blackhawks Injuries

12/18/18 GO Corey Crawford Concussion IR (12/18)

Key Pittsburgh Penguins Injuries

10/15/18 D Justin Schultz Lower Body is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jonathan Toews has accumulated 37 total points this season for the Blackhawks. He has 16 goals this year with 105 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 15%. He has a total of 21 assists on the season and averages 20.4 minutes played per game. Patrick Kane averages 22 minutes of ice time per game this year. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 14% by scoring 23 goals on 168 shots. He has 28 assists, giving him a total of 51 points on the season. Cam Ward has 6 wins and 7 losses this season in net for the Blackhawks. He has 590 shots against him and he's given up 66 goals. He's made 524 saves for a save percentage of 89%.

Player Spotlight

Phil Kessel has scored 46 total points this year for the Penguins. He has 17 goals this season with 111 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 15%. He has a total of 29 assists on the season and averages 18 minutes played per game. Sidney Crosby averages 20.6 minutes of ice time per game. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 17% by scoring 19 goals on 109 shots. He has 32 assists, giving him a total of 51 points on the season. Matt Murray has 11 wins and 5 losses this year in goal for the Penguins. He has 552 shots against him and he's surrendered 48 goals. He's made 504 saves for a save percentage of 91%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blackhawks have 37 total points this season, which ranks them 26th in the NHL. They are 16th in the league in goals scored with 123 while they've given up 156 goals, ranking them 2nd overall. They have had 129 power play opportunities and have scored 20 goals on those chances for a percentage of 16%. That is 24th in the NHL. The Blackhawks have allowed 127 power play opportunities and have given up 34 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 73%, putting them 31st in the league when short-handed. They average 31 shots per game and as a team shoot 9.10% for the season. They allow 35 shots to their opposition per contest and have a team save percentage of 90%. That puts them 25th in the league in stopping the puck.

Useful Team Statistics

The Penguins are 6th in the NHL with a total of 52 points this year. They have 31 power play goals on 114 opportunities for a percentage of 27%. That ranks them 5th in the league as a power play unit. They've allowed 113 power play opportunities and have given up 18 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 84%. That is 4th in the NHL. As a team, the Penguins are 5th in the league with 144 goals scored while they've given up 117 goals, which is 22nd overall. They average 33 shots per contest and have a team shooting percentage of 10.79%. As a team they give up 33 shots per game and have a save percentage of 92%. That is 5th in the NHL.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 19th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 49.3%, as they've attempted 2,488 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,562 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage is 47.5% as they have 1,816 attempts while they have given up 2,009 shots on the defensive end. That ranks them 26th in the league. The Blackhawks start possessions in the offensive zone 51.8% of the time, which is 11th in the league, while their defensive zone percentage is at 48.2% for the season. That is 21st overall in the NHL. They have 1,242 face-off wins compared to 1,256 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 49.7%. That ranks them 18th in the league. On defense Chicago has 677 hits and they have blocked 553 shots from the opposition, putting them 23rd overall.

Advanced Statistics

The Penguins are 29th in the league in starting possessions in the offensive zone, doing so 47% of the time. Their defensive zone percentage is at 53% for the season, which is 3rd in the NHL. They have 1,257 face-off wins compared to 1,251 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 50.1%. That is 14th in the league. On defense Pittsburgh has 1,198 hits and they have blocked 625 shots from the opposition, which is 6th in the league. Pittsburgh is 20th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 49.1% as they've attempted 2,357 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,442 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage of 49.6% ranks 18th as they have 1,788 attempts while they have given up 1,817 shots on the defensive end.

Who will win tonight's Blackhawks/Penguins NHL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Pittsburgh -245

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