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Chicago Blackhawks (24-38-6) vs. Arizona Coyotes (26-32-11)
The 2022-23 NHL season goes on with a 13-game Saturday card and brings this Western Conference clash between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Arizona Coyotes at the Mullett Arena in Glendale, Arizona at 10:30 p.m. ET.
These teams have met three times this season already, with the home team winning all three contests. The Coyotes defeated the Blackhawks at home on February 28, 4-1. Arizona was the favorite at -183 with the total set at 6.0. The Coyotes are the favorite in this contest as well (-155).
Blackhawks Down Predators for Second Straight Win
The Chicago Blackhawks began their five-game road trip with a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Thursday. The victory was the second straight for the team, who are 3-2-1 in their last six. Chicago has struggled on the road this season, going 10-20-3. They are in eighth place in the Western Conference Wild Card standings, 25 points behind Winnipeg.
Alex Stalock was fantastic in the net in the victory, stopping 35 shots. With Petr Mrazek listed as questionable for this contest, it will likely be Stalock (9-8-1, 2.70, .922) getting the call. Stalock has allowed four goals in two of his last five starts but has also held opponents to one goal or fewer in two with his last four starts. The Blackhawks are 25th in goals allowed per game (3.50) and are 21st in penalty killing (76.7%). They are allowing 3.10 goals per game over their last 10 contests.
Predators turned prey 😈 #HAWKSWIN pic.twitter.com/lfXuEepno0
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 17, 2023
Lukas Reichel and Joey Anderson scored the two goals for Chicago. Taylor Raddysh was held off the scoresheet but has seven points over his last five games. Chicago is last in the NHL in goals per game (2.52) and are 28th on the power play (16.7%).
Coyotes Down Canucks for Third Straight Win
The Arizona Coyotes defeated the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, 3-2. It was the third straight victory for the team and their fifth straight at home. Arizona has been very good of late, going 5-0-2. This is the final contest of their four-game homestand where the team is 19-11-3 this season. Arizona is nine points ahead of Chicago in the standings.
Arizona erased a one-goal deficit with three unanswered goals to earn the 3-2 victory over Vancouver. Travis Boyd scored twice in the contest and Clayton Keller added an assist, giving him nine points over his last seven games. Arizona is 27th in goals per game (2.78) and 22nd on the power play (19.8%). However, they have scored 12 total goals through the first three games of this homestand and have scored 26 goals in their last six home contests.
ANOTHER WIN IN THE MULLETT ✅ pic.twitter.com/lZxm95DgOB
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 17, 2023
Ivan Prosvetov stopped 29 shots to earn the victory in his second start this season. He has now allowed three total goals while stopping 68 shots. Karel Vejmelka (18-19-5, 3.36, .903) could get the start in this contest. He has struggled lately, allowing five or more goals in four of his last eight starts. Arizona is 24th in goals allowed per game (3.46) and in penalty killing (76.1%). They have killed off 83.8% of their shorthanded situations over the last 10 games and have a 3.10 goals-against average during that span.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The home team has dominated between these teams this season. That bodes well for a Coyotes team who have been absolutely sensational at home in March, going 5-1-1 overall, including winning their last five. This team is on a seven-game point streak and has defeated two playoff teams and lost to two others in overtime.Â
Chicago has earned victories in their last two games but they are just 1-2-1 in their four games on the road in March and are 10 games under .500 on the road this season. Arizona is getting solid goaltending over their last 10 games and their offensive production has picked up at home. They will clearly win this contest.
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Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
These teams combined for five goals the last time they met in Arizona. Stalock allowed four goals on 33 shots while Vejmelka had one of his best starts of the season, stopping 23 of 24 shots. One cannot expect that he will have as good a start here, but Arizona is playing better in their own end and are getting great offensive production. It could very well be that this game winds up in a push, but look for the over.
These teams have gone over in seven of the last 11 meetings in Arizona, and the Coyotes have gone over in five of the last seven at home. That is not surprising considering the scoring they are recording lately, scoring at least four goals in five of their last six games at home.