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Chicago Can Cash as Underdogs in Trip to Montreal on Saturday
Blackhawks are the A-Side in Battle of Rebuilding Teams
It’s a battle of first-overall picks as Connor Bedard and his Chicago Blackhawks head North to take on Juraj Slafkovsky and his Montreal Canadiens. The home team is favored after coming off a heartbreaking loss against Toronto. But Chicago has also been profitable in terms of being underdog NHL ATS picks (puck line). And they could do more than cover in this matchup.
Is Chicago a Contender?
It’s too early to tell, of course. But so far, so good these last two games. Chicago upset Pittsburgh then kept it close with Boston on the second night of a back-to-back. Bedard registered a point on both games and scored his first NHL goal against Boston. His line, with Ryan Donato and Taylor Hall, has been prolific. Alas, Hall is hurt.
CONNOR BEDARD WITH HIS FIRST NHL GOAL 🥳🚨 pic.twitter.com/pQeHIDx7WO
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 11, 2023
The absence of the former Hart Trophy winner could impact Chicago’s ability to score, hence why it finds itself as an underdog on the NHL odds. And if Montreal’s five-goal outburst against Toronto is no fluke, Chicago might be outgunned in what could be a firefight.
Still, Chicago has the best player every time Bedard steps on the ice. It’ll just be a question of depth. Can any other line score other than his? They stepped up against Pittsburgh. And Montreal is far from being a good defensive team. So this is an NHL pick on Oct. 14 worth pondering.
Chicago Has One; Montreal Has Many
Montreal raises Bedard with a more balanced lineup on both 5-on-5 and special teams. We caught a glimpse of Montreal’s potential as they scored five goals on Toronto with four coming from the second line down. Meanwhile, Montreal’s stars also scored on the power play.
That was an impressive display for Montreal even if it was still outshot 42-24. This team’s ability to produce beyond its top line will be its edge over Chicago on the NHL lines. It will be up to Sam Montembault to hold his own in between the pipes.
He did a solid job playing at home last season with a 9-7-1 record and a 90.6% save percentage. And in his two starts against Chicago, he’s saved 58 of the 63 shots he’s faced for a 1-0-1 record. His team is favored on the online sports betting lines partly due to his performances against Chicago.
Trends Look Optimistic For Chicago
The Blackhawks are 6-4 (6-3-1) in their last 10 games against Montreal. The scoring has been low with Montreal averaging just 1.8 goals despite outshooting Chicago on average: 34.1 to 28.8.
Blackhawks vs Canadiens Game Information
- Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 14, 7:07 p.m. ET
- Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
- Blackhawks vs Canadiens Live Stream: NHL.TV
Blackhawks vs Canadiens Betting Lines
Blackhawks vs Canadiens Game Prediction
Predicted Score: Blackhawks 3, Canadiens 2
Black the Hawks
Yes, Montreal has more depth and Montembault has played well against Chicago. But we’re not convinced Montreal is that much better than Chicago. The “Habs” may have caught Toronto, particularly Ilya Samsonov, off guard. We’d rather back the underdogs here.
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks
Fade the Total; Go Under
There is a temptation to favor scoring here given the young and exciting talent on both sides. But it’s unlikely for Montreal to shoot above 20% again. Thus, the total is just a tad high on our sportsbook. The total has gone under in the last nine meetings between these teams. That trend should continue.
Pick: Under 6½
Q: What are the top NHL picks ATS for this week?
A: Chicago could be a sly underdog pick to go against the spread this Saturday.
Q: What are the most promising NHL picks and expert predictions for the Blackhawks vs Canadiens game?
A: Bet Chicago to upset Montreal while the NHL lines are still offering them at their given odds.
