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The Chicago Blackhawks (8-14-2) take on the Toronto Maple Leafs (14-7-2) Monday evening. Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Blackhawks won 2-0 last year
The Hawks fell 6-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday in what was their sixth loss in 8 games. C Connor Bedard scored his fifth goal of the season. He has 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 24 games. The Hawks are 4-8-2 on the road thus far.
The Leafs got back in the win column Saturday with a 5-3 win in Tampa. RW William Nylander scored his 15th goal of the season. He is tied for fifth in the NHL in goals thus far. The best news from that game was the return of C Auston Matthews (upper body), who missed nearly a month due to injury. He had 2 assists in the game.
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Blackhawks at Maple Leafs 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 at 12:59 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blackhawks +310 (bet $100 to win $310) | Maple Leafs -400 (bet $400 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +2.5 (-150) | Maple Leafs -2.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Blackhawks at Maple Leafs projected goalies
Arvid Soderblom (1-4-1, 2.36 GAA, .926 SV%) vs. Anthony Stolarz (7-6-0, 3.33 GAA, .872 SV%, 1 SO)
The 25-year-old Swede has lost 3 straight starts, but he has performed well in them. He stopped 21 of 24 against Anaheim last time out, and he stopped 29 of 31 and 37 of 39 against Vancouver and Dallas. Soderblom has yet to allow more than 3 goals in his 6 starts. He was between the pipes in a 4-3 OT win against Toronto last year, stopping 34 of 37.
Stolarz took the 5-1 loss to Florida Wednesday, allowing 4 goals on 23 shots. He was solid overall in November, going 3-2-1 with a 2.18 GAA and .927 SV%. Stolarz suffered a 5-2 loss to the Hawks last year, stopping 20 of 24.
Blackhawks at Maple Leafs picks and predictions
Prediction
Maple Leafs 3, Blackhawks 2
Moneyline
There is no bet with the inflated ML here. Instead, let’s take CONNOR BEDARD OVER 2.5 SHOTS (-125). He had 5 and 4 SOG the last 2 games. He had 6 and 4 against Toronto last season.
Puck line/Against the spread
There’s no play here, either, because the Blackhawks losing by 2 or fewer goals at a chalky -150 is just not how I want to spend my Monday evening.
PASS and look to the total.
Over/Under
The Blackhawks are 2-8 O/U in their last 10, and the Leafs are 4-6. They have scored 3+ goals in 8 of 10 games, and the only ones they didn’t . . . they lost.
I don’t see the Leafs dropping a 5-spot on Soderblom, and I can’t see the Hawks scoring more than 2.
Take the UNDER 6 (-115).
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