The Chicago Blackhawks host the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 Winter Classic on Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field at 5:00 p.m. ET. NHL odds have St. Louis as a -145 favorite, while the total sits at 5.5.
Chicago has dropped each of its past four games by an average margin of 2.8 goals, and my Blues vs. Blackhawks predictions believe that this trend will continue on New Year’s Eve.
Read on for my NHL picks for December 31.
Blues vs Blackhawks prediction
My best bet
Blues -1.5 (+180 at BetMGM)
My analysis
I believe that the moneyline is so short simply due to the pomp and circumstance of the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. While that is certainly an added motivation, it doesn’t change the fact that the St. Louis Blues are the superior team in every facet of the game, and -1.5 (+180) puck line represents excellent value.
To once again dispute the narrative that is likely bringing St. Louis’ price down, the Hawks are 0-4 at the Winter Classic (0-1 in games played at Wrigley Field), and this is the worst team they’ve ever fielded in this event.
Chicago sits near the bottom of the league in every key metric. It ranks last in xGF/60, 24th in xGA/60, and 30th in expected goal differential per 60 minutes.
While the Blues are certainly not an elite team, they rank higher than the Blackhawks in all three of those categories. That just leaves the goaltending, which is yet another advantage for St. Louis.
Jordan Binnington is slated to guard the cage for the Blues, while Chicago responds with Petr Mrazek. Mrazek is 0-5 over his past five starts with a .844 SV% and 4.74 GAA, and the Hawks lost four of those five games by at least a two-goal margin.
Blues vs Blackhawks same-game parlay (SGP)
Blues -1.5
Pavel Buchnevich anytime goal
Robert Thomas 1+ points
If we are backing St. Louis to win by two or more goals, then it obviously needs to find the back of the net on a few occasions. A good candidate to do so is Pavel Buchnevich, who skates on the first line and with the first power play unit.
He’s collected five goals over his past 14 games against the Hawks. Chicago is one of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranking 24th in xGA/60 and 26th in goals allowed per game.
If we are selecting Buchnevich to score, then there is a high probability of Robert Thomas recording a point. Not only do they skate together on both the first line and first power play unit, but Thomas has also assisted on each of Buchnevich’s past three goals.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Blues vs Blackhawks odds
Blues vs Blackhawks live odds
Blues vs Blackhawks opening odds
- Puck line: St. Louis -1.5 (+180) | Chicago +1.5 (-225)
- Moneyline: St. Louis -135 | Chicago +115
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-110) | Under 5.5 (-110)
Blues vs Blackhawks trend
St. Louis has won eight of the past 10 meetings between these two teams, with each of those eight wins coming by at least a two-goal margin. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Blues vs Blackhawks
| Location: | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Date: | Tuesday, 12-31-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 5:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TNT, truTV |
Blues vs Blackhawks latest injuries
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