NHL Predictions – Blackhawks Vulnerable In a Two-in-Two? 10/19/17
Chicago takes on a struggling Edmonton team Thursday night at the United Center in the NHL Predictions Oilers Blackhawks 10/19/17. The Oilers have dropped four straight contests but have a slight advantage of the Blackhawks playing a game last night in St. Louis (2-5 loss).
Odds
Chicago opened as -148 favorites but were lowered to -115 upon announcement that Anton Forsberg would be in goal for the Blackhawks instead of Corey Crawford. Cam Talbot is in goal for Edmonton – not a pretty site either. Both teams are actually favored on the ML with the Oilers fetching -109. The total upped from 5.5 to 6.
Edmonton Oilers
There are two negative things despite the fact that Edmonton has lost four games in a row. First, three defeats in a row have been on their home ice. Second, in all four losses they were favored, in a few instances very heavily such as a 2-3 loss to Vancouver at -154 and a 1-6 loss to Ottawa at a whopping -190. Connor McDavid, a 100 point scorer a year ago, tallied three in the opener but hasn’t notched one since. The Oilers turn to Cam Talbot for some consistency in net for the NHL Predictions Oilers Blackhawks 10/19/17, but his save percentage is only .880 this year.
Chicago Blackhawks
Forsberg makes his second start of the year for Crawford, who is getting rest following two games in two nights. In Forsberg’s first start he was pelted with 43 shots, stopping 39 of them in an OT loss to the Maple Leafs. While McDavid is struggling for Edmonton, #2 point scorer a year ago Patrick Kane (89) is on a five game goalless streak himself.
NHL Predictions Oilers Blackhawks 10/19/17
Chicago does have the disadvantage of not only playing in back-to-back games, but also having their backup goaltender in net. Not a problem last year with the comparable Scott Darling in net, but a potential issue in 2017 with Forsberg, who has a career record of 1-8-1. McDavid should light up at this opportunity – but so will Kane against Talbot.
Pick: Edmonton / Chicago *Over 6
