Chicago Blackhawks (1-4-1 Preseason) vs. Utah Hockey Club (5-2-0 Preseason)
This Tuesday, the Chicago Blackhawks will begin their first game of the NHL regular season against the recently created Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center. While the Blackhawks preseason was a complete muck with a 1-4-1 win-loss record, the other way round was for Utah as they went 5-2-0. As for the fans and bettors, the interest is growing, particularly among those who search for daily NHL free picks to bet on this interesting game.
Despite the overall poor performance of Chicago’s offensive line over the last season led by Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev, one could see some flashes of greatness. Without any surprise, the key player of the Chicago Blackhawks will probably be Bedard, who scored 61 points last season. Their offensive game, however, will still be forcefully challenged by Utah’s defenses, which has been quite solid during the preseason. The Blackhawks will have to make the most of the opportunities that come their way on the power play and improve their shooting if they hope to penetrate Utah’s defensive wall.
Although the Utah Hockey Club is gearing up for its first regular season game, it has a potent attack with players like Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, formerly of the Arizona Coyotes. Keller scored 76 points last season, and his vein playing making prowess in addition to Schmaltz, poses a huge danger to the weak defense of the Chicago Blackhawks team. Given the Chicago team’s struggles, especially away from the United Center, there is an experienced and aggressive Utah offense that is ready to take full advantage of any defensive weaknesses, clearly paving the way for a very tactical first encounter in their historic first game.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Delta Center |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Petr Mrazek vs. Goaltender Connor Ingram
Petr Mrazek is undoubtedly one of the goalkeepers under pressure after posting a figure of .908 save percentage last season. It will be vital for him as he has to confront the powerful offense of Utah. Mrazek’s weak spot, as in many other goaltenders, is the ability to perform in the tough moments of the game, particularly in shootouts when his save percentage drops, this case for example against the rather forward Utah.
On the other hand, Connor Ingram, in contrast to the former goalie, is not very experienced but also possesses nearly the same save percentage of .907. The take his coolness will be fundamental in landing at some of the goals in play while cutting off the power chances that Chicago will seek to launch. Ingram may very well be the starting goaltender for this game, and how he plays in this one may very well dictate the rest of his season considering he is going against seasoned players.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Utah Hockey Club -160, Total Odds: 6
Utah is favored in the betting odds primarily due to the strong preseason of Utah and the recent poor form of Chicago. The total is lined at 6, and logic suggests an under, given the history of statistics that favors more the goalies and the team from Chicago that has been having issues in finding the net.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
Based on Chicago’s form, it is frustrating with six defeats in a row especially in their away games; in the last twenty, their record is three victories. Moreover, it is visible that the team is struggling a lot in the conference games, as exemplified by their five straight losses, which can be a pointer to the weakness in how flexible the players play and how tough they can remain, which are things that sports betters must be cognizant to.
Utah Hockey Club Betting Trends
As this is Utah’s first regular season game, there are no available historical trends for this game. Nevertheless, the victories in the preseason tell a different story on the players’ developing chemistry and strategies, which put them in as an unknown element in the betting world.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club 10/8/24 Betting Picks
Based on preseason performances, Utah’s robust lineup and their momentum as they step into their first regular-season game make them the favorites against the struggling Blackhawks. Chicago’s weak road game record and defensive issues further tilt the scales in favor of Utah, making them a strong pick in this matchup.
For bettors looking for sound advice, Utah’s puckline seems promising. Considering the total trends and goalie stats, betting the under might be wise. Engage with top online betting platforms to explore these options and consider prop bets on key Utah players like Keller.
