Blackhawks, Canucks Get It on Again in Vancouver

Super Bowl odds are focused on the NFL’s conference championships this weekend, but in the NHL, there’s a possible Western Conference final preview going down on Saturday night as Chicago will head to Vancouver. The Blackhawks eliminated the Canucks last year, and regular-season meetings between these two have gained new meaning.

Blackhawks vs Canucks odds – Saturday, January 23, 10:00 PM ET

The Blackhawks have won three of the first four of their eight-game road trip, and they can win both ways. They opened the trip with a 6-5 win in Columbus, and then shut down Calgary in a 3-1 win on Thursday. The goaltending tandem of Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi seems to be working for the Blackhawks, but Niemi could get the nod on Saturday as he is 7-1-1 with a 1.25 GAA away from home, so online betting players should check that situation before they head to their sportsbook.

The Canucks have played the fewest games on the road in the entire league, but they have a 14-game road trip coming up on both sides of the Olympic break, one of the perks to your city hosting the Winter Olympics. The line of Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Alex Burrows has been a force this year, while Ryan Kesler has been great on the power play. Roberto Luongo has given up more than three goals just once in his last 10 starts, and he’s played well against the Blackhawks this year after not doing so good in the playoffs last year, posting a 1.51 GAA in two games against Chicago.

Vancouver should be favored by bookmaker odds (bookmaker reviews) at GM Place, where they are 20-7-1, but the Blackhawks are a respectable 14-7-3 away from the United Center, and they’ve won their last four games in Vancouver. There will be a lot of speed and skill on display in this game, and the play of the goaltenders should actually decide who comes away with the win. The Canucks will have a close eye on Patrick Kane, who lit the lamp six times in last year’s playoff series. But it’s very tough to bet against the Canucks at home, and they’ll be looking to get as many points as they can before they head out on the road.

Hockey odds pick: Vancouver