Florida Panthers vs Chicago Blackhawks Predictions

Florida has the statistical edge

Florida Panthers / NHL.com lists Florida at 5-4-2 and Chicago at 3-7-0. The Panthers have scored 2.82 goals per game and allowed 3.09, while the Blackhawks have scored 2.20 and allowed 4.00. Florida also leads Chicago on the power play, 19.2% to 10.3%, and the penalty kill, 82.6% to 76.7%. Those advantages make Florida the likelier winner, but they don't make its -180 moneyline attractive.

The Panthers have started this four-game road trip with a 5-1 loss in Ottawa and a 4-0 loss in Pittsburgh. Chicago has also struggled, losing 4-1 to Montreal and 4-0 to Dallas, but Florida's one goal across its past two games makes laying a steep price difficult.

Goaltending keeps the risk high

Daily Faceoff confirms Akira Schmid as Florida's starter but lists Chicago's Spencer Knight as unconfirmed. The Blackhawks will also be without defenseman Bowen Byram because of an upper-body injury, according to Florida Panthers / NHL.com. Chicago's weak defensive numbers favor Florida, but the unresolved matchup in goal limits confidence in the moneyline and the Panthers' -1.5 puck line.

Betting pick

Florida should win more often than Chicago, but -180 is too expensive for a team coming off consecutive road losses by at least four goals. The evidence also doesn't support predicting a two-goal margin. Pass on both the moneyline and puck line.