Vegas Golden Knights vs. Chicago Blackhawks Pick and Prediction for Sunday January 4 2026
The Vegas Golden Knights (17-11-11) travel to the United Center on Sunday night looking to snap a three-game losing skid. Vegas has struggled with inconsistency lately, including a narrow 4-3 loss to St. Louis on Friday. Despite the recent slump, the Golden Knights remain a formidable road team (9-5-5) and currently sit 2nd in the Pacific Division.
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The Chicago Blackhawks (15-18-7) are enjoying a rare moment of momentum after a 4-3 win over Dallas on New Year's Day.4 While they occupy 7th in the Central Division, they have been "giant killers" recently, earning points in three of their last four games. Vegas enters as a heavy -265 moneyline favorite, with the total goals set at 5.5. For expert analysis and daily wagering insights on the full slate of NHL action, be sure to check out the latest free NHL picks over at Winners and Whiners.
Vegas: Weathering the Injury Storm
The Golden Knights' recent slide coincides with a significant injury report. Defenseman Brayden McNabb was recently termed "week-to-week" with an upper-body injury, joining Shea Theodore (IR) and Alex Pietrangelo (Season-ending LTIR) on the sidelines.5 This has forced Vegas to rely on depth defenders like Kaedan Korczak and Ben Hutton for top-four minutes.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tony Karpinski | +2,976.00 |
| 2 |  Joe Duffy | +2,595.00 |
| 3 |  The Insiders Room | +2,320.00 |
| 4 |  Mark Ruelle | +1,627.00 |
| 5 |  Jackie Mack | +1,451.00 |
Offensively, the burden remains on Jack Eichel, who has returned to the lineup and leads the team with 41 points.6 The secret weapon for Vegas has been Pavel Dorofeyev, who has erupted for 16 goals (10 on the power play).7 With Mitch Marner (31 assists) facilitating from the wing, the Golden Knights' power play remains dangerous at 24.6%, which could be the deciding factor against a Chicago team that tends to take several penalties per game.
Chicago: The Bedard Effect
Connor Bedard continues to be the primary reason to watch the Blackhawks, leading the team with 44 points (19G, 25A).8 He has been remarkably productive against Vegas in his young career, recording 6 points in 7 career matchups. Chicago’s offense has found a secondary spark in Ilya Mikheyev, who is coming off a two-goal performance against the Stars and has four goals in his last four games.9
In net, Chicago has found stability in Spencer Knight (11-11-6, 2.63 GAA).10 Knight has been a workhorse lately, keeping a struggling Chicago defense in games by facing an average of 30 shots per night. For Vegas, expect Carter Hart to get the nod. Hart has been split-crease with Akira Schmid during Adin Hill's absence, and he will need to improve on his .876 save percentage to keep the opportunistic Blackhawks at bay.
Analysis & Betting Picks
Moneyline: Vegas Golden Knights (-265)
The price is steep, but Vegas is the significantly better team in terms of structure and high-end talent. While the Blackhawks are playing better of late, they still rank 29th in shots allowed per game. Vegas possesses the puck too well for Chicago to sustain pressure for 60 minutes. Even with a depleted blue line, Eichel and Marner should be able to navigate the Blackhawks' defensive zone and secure two points for the visitors.
Total: Over 5.5 (-135)
This is the strongest play of the game. Vegas has allowed 15 goals over their last four games due to their defensive injuries, and Chicago has seen the "Over" hit in four of their last five contests. With Bedard and Eichel on the ice and both teams featuring backup or struggling goaltending, a 4-2 or 5-3 final score is well within the cards.
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