PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Total DOMINATION (DAY GAME!) >> 15-7 This Week!
(NHL) Chicago vs. Anaheim,
Total: 5.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Push
Total: 5.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Push
The set-up: The 13-6-2 Chicago Blackhawks try to continue their holiday tradition of defeating the Ducks in Anaheim on the day after Thanksgiving when they visit on Friday. This is the third consecutive season in which the teams meet on this day, with Chicago prevailing 3-2 in overtime last year and 4-1 in 2014, but the Blackhawks could be without captain Jonathan Toews for Friday's renewal after he left Wednesday's 2-1 loss in San Jose. The Ducks enter 9-7-4, locked in a four-team battle at the top of the Pacific Division, as four teams are within three points of each other.
Chicago: Toews did not return Wednesday night, after falling awkwardly along the boards in the second period as Chicago fell to 2-3-0 on its seven-game Circus road trip. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville called it an upper-body injury and told reporters he was hopeful that it was "nothing long-term or serious." He indicated Toews could play the final two games of the trip. Patrick Kane paces Chicago with 14 assists and 20 points but has recorded only two assists on the road trip after totaling four goals and nine points in his first seven games this month. Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin each have notched a club-high eight goals and 11 assists while Marian Hossa owns a team-high 11 goals.
Anaheim: The Ducks enter Friday's game off back-to-back losses, which followed five wins in the team's previous seven games. Anaheim was outplayed Sunday night in a 3-2 loss to the LA Kings and then the the Ducks sustained another 3-2 loss in a 14-round shootout Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. Corey Perry's has 334 career goals and 346 assists and currently shares the team lead with 16 points on the strength of 12 assists. Anaheim's second line of C Ryan Kesler (eight goals) and wings Jakob Silfverberg (six) and Andrew Cogliano (five) continues to be its best two-way unit as they lead the team in plus-minus at plus-9, 8 and 6, respectively.
The pick: Chicago concludes its longest road trip of the season, brought on by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey occupying the United Center, with this game in Anaheim and a Saturday game in Los Angeles on Saturday. As noted above, the Blackhawks and the Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Ca., on the day after Thanksgiving has become almost as traditional as turkey leftovers, college football and millions of shoppers looking for bargains on Black Friday. Expect more than a few goals in this one, as Chicago goalie Corey Crawford has allowed 13 goals in his past four games, after conceding just 11 in his previous eight. Also note that the Blackhawks own a league-worst penalty-killing unit at 68.7 percent, which has allowed four goals on 10 chances over the last three games. It looks as if Gibson will be in goal for Anaheim but whether it's him or Bernier, the Over is a 10* play.
Chicago: Toews did not return Wednesday night, after falling awkwardly along the boards in the second period as Chicago fell to 2-3-0 on its seven-game Circus road trip. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville called it an upper-body injury and told reporters he was hopeful that it was "nothing long-term or serious." He indicated Toews could play the final two games of the trip. Patrick Kane paces Chicago with 14 assists and 20 points but has recorded only two assists on the road trip after totaling four goals and nine points in his first seven games this month. Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin each have notched a club-high eight goals and 11 assists while Marian Hossa owns a team-high 11 goals.
Anaheim: The Ducks enter Friday's game off back-to-back losses, which followed five wins in the team's previous seven games. Anaheim was outplayed Sunday night in a 3-2 loss to the LA Kings and then the the Ducks sustained another 3-2 loss in a 14-round shootout Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. Corey Perry's has 334 career goals and 346 assists and currently shares the team lead with 16 points on the strength of 12 assists. Anaheim's second line of C Ryan Kesler (eight goals) and wings Jakob Silfverberg (six) and Andrew Cogliano (five) continues to be its best two-way unit as they lead the team in plus-minus at plus-9, 8 and 6, respectively.
The pick: Chicago concludes its longest road trip of the season, brought on by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey occupying the United Center, with this game in Anaheim and a Saturday game in Los Angeles on Saturday. As noted above, the Blackhawks and the Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Ca., on the day after Thanksgiving has become almost as traditional as turkey leftovers, college football and millions of shoppers looking for bargains on Black Friday. Expect more than a few goals in this one, as Chicago goalie Corey Crawford has allowed 13 goals in his past four games, after conceding just 11 in his previous eight. Also note that the Blackhawks own a league-worst penalty-killing unit at 68.7 percent, which has allowed four goals on 10 chances over the last three games. It looks as if Gibson will be in goal for Anaheim but whether it's him or Bernier, the Over is a 10* play.