Oilers vs Blackhawks Prediction, Odds & Best Bets | NHL Bets (1/9): Edmonton Doesn’t Break Sweat

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It’s a massive night around the National Hockey League with 10 games slated for Tuesday, Jan. 9. At the center of the chaos is a clash between the Edmonton Oilers (20-15-1) and Chicago Blackhawks (12-26-2) at the United Center, airing on both Hulu and ESPN+ at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Oilers are on the hunt for their eighth consecutive victory after nabbing a 3-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks hope for more success after Sunday’s 4-3 victory against the Calgary Flames snapped a five-game skid.

For any sports bettors looking to get in on tonight’s action, don’t worry — Betting News has you covered. Let’s check out my Oilers vs Blackhawks prediction and best bets.

Oilers vs Blackhawks ESPN+ Hockey Night (1/9)

Oilers vs Blackhawks Matchup Information

• Matchup: Edmonton Oilers (20-15-1, 9-9-0 Away) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (12-26-2, 8-9-1 Home)
• Venue & Location: United Center (Chicago, IL)
• Date: Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2023
• Game Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time
• Oilers vs. Blackhawks TV Info: ESPN+, Hulu

Oilers vs Blackhawks Odds

Oilers vs. Blackhawks odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 9:12 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Oilers vs Blackhawks Puck Line

• Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (-168)
• Chicago Blackhawks +1.5 (+142)

Blackhawks vs Oilers Over/Under

• Over 6.5 Goals (-125)
• Under 6.5 Goals (+105)

Oilers vs Blackhawks Moneyline

• Edmonton Oilers (-450)
• Chicago Blackhawks (+335)

NHL Best Bets and Picks

Looking to get in on even more hockey action? Be sure to check out our NHL picks page for consensus picks for every game on any day of the year.

You can also check out:

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Oilers vs Blackhawks Betting Trends

• Edmonton is 5-0 straight up in its last five road games.
• Chicago is 3-7 straight up in its last 10 games vs. the Western Conference.
• The total hit the Over in eight of Edmonton’s last 11 games played in January.
• The total hit the Over in seven of Chicago’s last nine games vs. the Pacific Division.
• The total hit the Over in five of the last six Edmonton-Chicago matchups at the United Center.

Oilers vs Blackhawks Prediction & Pick (1/9)

Tonight’s game is the second Oilers-Blackhawks meeting in the last month. The two clubs first met at Rogers Place back on Dec. 12 as Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard led Edmonton to a 4-1 victory, each recording a pair of assists in the win.

The first encounter was exciting as it was the first clash between McDavid and 2023 first-overall selection Connor Bedard, who scored Chicago’s lone goal in the loss. Unfortunately, we won’t get a rematch between the two superstars as Bedard is currently on the injured reserve with a fractured jaw.

Considering how Bedard leads the Blackhawks in goals (15), assists (18), and points (33), it’s safe to say that the home team faces an uphill battle tonight.

Can the Blackhawks defeat the Oilers without Connor Bedard tonight?

Sure, the Blackhawks beat the Flames without Bedard, but tonight’s matchup will be a bigger challenge. After all, the Oilers have won seven games in a row, outscoring those opponents 32-13 on aggregate and by an average of 2.7 goals per game.

To the surprise of few, McDavid has done most of the damage during this run, pacing his teammates with 13 points in seven games. Additionally, Zach Hyman (10), Leon Draisaitl (8), Warren Foegele (8), Ryan McLeod (8), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (8), and Bouchard (7) are all playing at a point-per-game pace during the winning streak.

Daily Faceoff also projects the Oilers to start goaltender Stuart Skinner, who’s been red-hot lately. The 25-year-old netminder is 5-0-0 in his last five starts, backstopping his way to a 1.58 goals-against average and .948 save percentage with one shutout victory.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks will likely start Petr Mrazek. Although the veteran puck-stopper has been one of the few bright spots during Chicago’s campaign, it’s worth noting that he’s 1-2-1 with a 4.70 GAA and .860 SV% in his last four appearances. He also lost his last two starts against the Oilers, allowing 11 goals on only 72 shots.

Can the Oilers take advantage of Petr Mrazek’s poor play?

Let’s not overthink the situation — the Oilers are the right pick tonight. They’re on fire lately and have been decisively defeating opponents left and right. The Blackhawks are hardly an intimidating team and there’s even less to be scared about with Bedard not playing. The Oilers shouldn’t even break a sweat if I’m being honest.

With that in mind, I do like the Over on the 6.5-goal total. The last 10 Oilers-Blackhawks collisions saw an average of 7.5 goals scored as the teams combined for more than 6.5 in seven of those contests. If that isn’t convincing enough, their last four meetings averaged 8.4 goals while five of the last six clashes at the United Center went over their projected totals.

In other words, expect a ton of fireworks as the Oilers blow out the Blackhawks.

Oilers vs Blackhawks Prediction: EDM wins

Best Oilers vs Blackhawks NHL Bet: o6.5 Total Goals (-125)

Get 50% up to $750 on this pick over on Bovada

Best Oilers vs Blackhawks NHL Player Prop (1/9)

If you like shots on goal-related NHL player props, you want to go with the Zach Hyman o3.5 SOG tonight.

Zach Hyman has three goals tonight & 25 on the season…seems like something an All-Star would do ?#NHLAllStarVote Zach Hyman ⭐ pic.twitter.com/fHKaJ7wB4w

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 7, 2024

Hyman has consistently generated offense throughout the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 3.8 SOG per game. That average has actually jumped up to 4.8 SOG over the last 18 games — a span where he’s hit the Over on this prop 13 times. That includes an eight-shot performance against the Senators over the weekend.

Considering how he’s finished with the Over more times (18) than he hasn’t (17) this season, it’s easy to like Hyman making good on this prop again.

Best Oilers vs Blackhawks Prop Bet: Zach Hyman o3.5 Shots on Goal (-125)

Get 50% up to $750 on this pick over on Bovada

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