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The St. Louis Blues (17-17-4) and Chicago Blackhawks (12-23-2) clash in outdoor New Year’s Eve action Tuesday. The opening puck drop of the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field will be at 5 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blues vs. Blackhawks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Blues won 3-1 last season
The Blues head to Chicago after a home loss to the Buffalo Sabres Sunday. St. Louis outshot Buffalo 37-16 but lost 4-2. The Blues were undone by 2 power-play netfinders and have yielded 4 such goals over their last 2 games.
The Blackhawks are playing the second contest of a 5-game home stand. Chicago kicked off that stretch with a Sunday loss to the Dallas Stars. The ‘Hawks were trounced 5-1 in what marked their fourth straight loss.
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Blues at Blackhawks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated Monday at 9:10 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Blues -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Blackhawks +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blues -1.5 (+180) | Blackhawks +1.5 (-225)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Blues at Blackhawks projected goalies
Jordan Binnington (9-14-3, 2.93 GAA, .895 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Petr Mrazek (7-13-1, 3.09 GAA, .897 SV%)
Binnington allowed all 4 goals in Saturday’s game against the Sabres, and he owns a shaky .877 SV% over his last 7 games. The veteran goalie started 3 games against Chicago last season, yielding 10 goals on an .870 SV%.
Mrazek was on injured reserve for nearly 2 weeks earlier this month, and his return to action has not gone smoothly. Chicago’s primary netminder allowed 5 goals in a Dec. 21 return and then was pulled from his next (and most recent) start, which was Friday against Buffalo (4 goals allowed on 11 first-period shots).
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Blues at Blackhawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Blues 3, Blackhawks 2
Moneyline
St. Louis has won its last 2 games against the Blackhawks and is 4-1 over its last 5 trips to the Windy City. And overall, the Blues are 8-2 across their last 10 games against Chicago.
The Blues are 2-0-0 in Winter Classics (wins in 2017 — over Chicago — and 2022). The Blackhawks are 0-4-0 (losses in 2009, 2015, 2017 and 2019).
Coach Jim Montgomery replaced Drew Bannister as the St. Louis bench boss Nov. 24, and the Blues have played slightly better in going 8-5-3 since. The club has struggled in special teams but has logged better play in 5-on-5 action lately. Since Montgomery took over, 3 of the Blues’ losses have been in overtime and one more defeat was in a 1-goal game. And in his tenure, St. Louis has gone 6-2-2 in 10 road games.
Chicago has been getting out-chanced frequently. The Blackhawks have lost 4 in a row and yielded 21 goals in the process.
BET THE BLUES (-145).
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest: PASS.
Over/Under
The Under has gone 7-3 across the last 10 series meetings held in Chicago.
Both clubs have 5-on-5 analytics that indicate some worse-than-deserved defensive numbers. Sometimes Winter Classic ice conditions spell tough conditions for the offenses. Temperatures in the 50s and some rain have made ice prep a bit tricky in the lead-up to Tuesday’s tilt at Wrigley Field.
TAKE THE UNDER 5.5 (-110).
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