Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions December 15th 2024

Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Islanders December 15th 2024

Looking to win big? The Islanders and Blackhawks face off at 3:00 ET on NHLN. The Blackhawks are hosting the game at United Center in Chicago, IL. The Islanders are the -1.5 goal favorites in this non-conference matchup against Blackhawks. The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals.

New York vs. Chicago Key Information

• Teams: Islanders at Blackhawks
• Where: United Center Chicago
• Date: Sunday, December 15th
• Betting Odds NYI -169 | CHI +144 O/U 5.5

The Islanders Can Win If…

Following a 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders now sit at 12-12-7 for the season. The Islanders’ defense struggled, giving up the first goal just 3:44 into the game and never managed to take the lead.

The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark. The Islanders, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. They scored both of their goals in the second period, but the Rangers added two more in the third to put the game out of reach.

Casey Cizikas netted his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth in the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Pierre Engvall, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle Palmieri, and Anders Lee contributed with assists.

The Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the first period. They found the net twice in the second, with Nelson’s goal coming just 8 seconds before the period ended. Offensive giveaways were an issue, as the team recorded 23.

The Islanders’ defense struggled early, giving up the first goal just 3:44 into the game and another at 1:21 into the second period. After closing the gap to 3-2, they allowed two more goals in the third, including an empty-netter. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with a save percentage of 89.7%.

• New York will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. But, they did not perform well vs the puck line in these games, going 1-2. Their over-under record in these matchups was 1-1-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Islanders have gone 4-6 straight up. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 4-6, in addition to an over-under mark of 6-3-1.

The Blackhawks Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Ducks, the Blackhawks improved to 9-19-2 this season. Chicago covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 6 goals fell just short of the 6.5 set before the game.

Chicago’s defense held Anaheim scoreless until the third period. Four different Blackhawks found the net, and they also managed to keep the Ducks from scoring until 10:16 in the third period.

Chicago’s offense scored four goals in their 4-2 win over Anaheim, with Ryan Donato netting his 7th of the season. Seth Jones added his second goal, while Isaak Phillips and Teuvo Teravainen also found the net. Teravainen’s goal was his 4th of the season and came on a power play, as did Jones’ goal.

Chicago took 29 shots on goal and recorded 12 giveaways. Connor Bedard contributed with two assists, bringing his total to 9 for the season. Taylor Hall added another assist, giving him 4 so far.

Defensively, the Blackhawks will look to build off their last game, where they allowed just two goals to Anaheim. Arvid Söderblom made 38 saves with a 95% save percentage, and the defense added 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both goals they allowed came in the 3rd period, including one with just 4 seconds remaining.

• Chicago has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Across this span, their puck line record sits at 2-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Chicago has a record of 2-8. Across these games, their puck line record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 5-5.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Blackhawks to secure a victory over the Islanders at home. With the moneyline currently set at +144, I’m locking in my bet on the Blackhawks straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Blackhawks winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Blackhawks straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Blackhawks, Islanders Aim for Defensive Stability

The Chicago Blackhawks (7-17-2) and New York Islanders (12-12-4) square off for the second time in four days on Sunday afternoon, with both teams looking to ease the burden on their goaltenders. The Islanders edged Chicago 5-4 on Thursday, but defensive lapses in the final minutes left coach Patrick Roy fuming.

Islanders Striving for Consistency

The Islanders, fresh off three wins in four games, aim to maintain momentum after a chaotic finish in Thursday’s game. New York surrendered three late goals, nearly squandering a comfortable lead.

“We didn’t compete. We didn’t battle in front of the net in the last eight minutes,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “That’s unacceptable. Ilya (Sorokin) gives us a chance every night, but we need to do better for him.”

Sorokin, who made 30 saves in Thursday’s win, has been a rock for New York, but defensive breakdowns have tested his resilience. On Sunday, the Islanders will rely on contributors like Simon Holmstrom, Noah Dobson, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, all of whom registered multi-point performances in the previous game against Chicago.

Blackhawks Battling Scoring Woes

The Blackhawks have lost seven of their past eight games and are struggling offensively, scoring more than two goals just once in their last six contests. Chicago suffered a 4-1 defeat to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday despite flashes of promise from Connor Bedard and an early lead on Jason Dickinson’s goal.

Chicago is also adjusting to a shift in net. With Petr Mrazek sidelined by a lower-body injury, Drew Commesso made his NHL debut Thursday, stopping 20 shots against the Islanders. Whether Commesso or Arvid Soderblom starts on Sunday, the Blackhawks know they must provide better offensive and defensive support.

“We can’t, every night, rely on our goalies to win us games,” Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno said. “If Commesso has to pitch a shutout in his first NHL game, it’s great for him, but it’s not a good sign for us as a team.”

Key Players to Watch

New York Islanders:

• Ilya Sorokin: Continues to keep the Islanders in games despite inconsistent defensive play.
• Noah Dobson: The defenseman had a goal and an assist Thursday and is critical on both ends of the ice.
• Jean-Gabriel Pageau: Coming off a three-assist game, Pageau anchors the Islanders’ depth scoring.

Chicago Blackhawks:

• Connor Bedard: The dynamic rookie remains Chicago’s top offensive threat.
• Drew Commesso/Arvid Soderblom: Whichever goalie starts will need strong play behind an evolving defense.
• Nick Foligno: The captain is a crucial voice in rallying his team out of its slump.

Keys to the Game

New York Islanders:

1. Close Strong: Avoid late-game lapses that nearly cost them in Thursday’s matchup.
2. Control the Neutral Zone: Disrupt Chicago’s transition game and deny Bedard space to create.
3. Support Sorokin: Minimize high-danger chances to alleviate pressure on their star goalie.

Chicago Blackhawks:

1. Generate Offense: Focus on sustained pressure and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
2. Defensive Discipline: Protect their netminders by limiting turnovers and odd-man rushes.
3. Special Teams Improvement: Take advantage of power-play opportunities while staying disciplined to avoid penalties.

Matchup Outlook

Sunday’s game is pivotal for both teams as the Islanders look to build momentum while the Blackhawks aim to snap a tough stretch. Improved defensive play will be key, especially for Chicago, which has struggled to find consistency in its own zone.

With Ilya Sorokin in net and New York’s offensive depth clicking, the Islanders have a slight edge. However, if Chicago can lean on its home crowd and get a breakout performance from its young stars, an upset could be in the cards.