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Chicago Blackhawks vs Pittsburgh Penguins April 6th 2025
Betting on today’s Penguins and Blackhawks game? Catch the action at United Center in Chicago, IL, as the Blackhawks hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. In this non-conference matchup, the Penguins are favored by -1.5 vs. the Blackhawks. The over/under for the game is 6.5 goals.
Pittsburgh vs. Chicago Key Information
- Teams: Penguins at Blackhawks
- Where: United Center Chicago
- Date: Sunday, April 6th
- Betting Odds PIT -136 | CHI +115 O/U 6.5
The Penguins Can Win If…
The Penguins improved to 31-34-12 with a 3-1 win over the Canadiens. Pittsburgh covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 set by oddsmakers.
Sidney Crosby led the way with two goals, and Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter to seal the victory. The Penguins kept the Canadiens scoreless until the third period.
Sidney Crosby led the Penguins’ offense in their 3-1 win over the Canadiens, scoring twice on three shots. He opened the scoring at 4:03 in the first period and added a second goal, his fifth of the season, on a power play at 1:20 in the second period.
Blake Lizotte netted his second goal of the season with an empty-netter at 19:15 in the third period. The Penguins took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.
Defensively, the Penguins will look to build on their last game, where they gave up just 1 goal to Montreal. Alex Nedeljkovic had a strong performance, making 25 saves with a 96.2% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 19 hits.
- Through their last three games, the Penguins have a record of 2-1. In addition, their puck line record over this stretch is 3-0 while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
- Over their last ten regular season games, the Penguins have gone 5-5 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 7-3, while posting an over-under record of 8-1-1.
The Blackhawks Can Win If…
Chicago picked up a 4-2 win over the Ducks, moving to 21-45-10 on the season. The Blackhawks covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 6 goals fell short of the 6.5 line.
Four different players scored for Chicago, and they held the Ducks scoreless until the third period. The Blackhawks’ defense had to deal with 39 shots, but they managed to keep Anaheim at bay for the most part.
Chicago’s offense struck early in their 4-2 win over Anaheim, with Isaak Phillips netting his first goal of the season. Teuvo Teravainen added his fourth, while Seth Jones scored his second on a power play. Ryan Donato capped the scoring with his seventh goal of the year.
Connor Bedard was active, picking up his 7th, 8th, and 9th assists. The Blackhawks fired 29 shots on goal and converted twice on power plays. Despite 12 giveaways, they managed to score twice in the first period, once in the second, and once more in the third.
Arvid Söderblom made 38 saves with a 95% save percentage in the Blackhawks’ 4-2 win over the Ducks. Chicago’s defense added 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both goals they allowed came in the 3rd period, including one with just four seconds left.
- Chicago has put together a record of 0-3 in their last three games (regular season). Across these games, their puck line record was just 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 2-1.
- Across Chicago’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 1-9. Against the spread, Chicago went 2-8 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 7-3.
The Lean
For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Blackhawks to pick up on a win over the Penguins at home. With the moneyline sitting at +115, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Blackhawks straight-up.
Our projections have the Blackhawks pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Blackhawks, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.
With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.
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Reeling Blackhawks Bid to Shut Down Sidney Crosby, Penguins: Milestones vs. Misfires at the United Center
When the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, all eyes will be on one man — Sidney Crosby, who just keeps etching his name deeper into NHL history. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are simply trying to halt a freefall and salvage some pride in front of their home fans.
Blackhawks Struggling to Finish, Both Games and the Season
The numbers don’t lie. Chicago has lost five straight (0-4-1) and 12 of its last 13 games. Friday’s 5-3 defeat in Washington was another heartbreaker — they entered the third period with a 3-2 lead but couldn’t hold it together.
Even more frustrating? That was the game where Alex Ovechkin scored twice to tie Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record (894) — and it happened against them.
“It’s a big moment for the league, for Ovi,” said interim coach Anders Sorensen. “But we’re here to win hockey games. And we let that one slip.”
The loss was just the latest example of Chicago failing to close out games. Defensive lapses and shaky goaltending have led to four separate five-goal concessions in their last five outings. And their offense hasn’t been able to pick up the slack either.
Add to that off-ice hiccups — like Lukas Reichel missing a team meeting because of a dead phone — and the Hawks are a team in disarray, both tactically and mentally.
“I’ve never been late to a meeting,” said Reichel. “Just wasn’t smart enough this time.”
Penguins Riding Crosby’s Historic Tear into Chicago
Sidney Crosby, on the other hand, looks ageless. The Penguins’ captain is on a 12-game point streak, racking up 11 goals and nine assists in that span. His hat trick and assist on Saturday in Dallas powered the Pens to a 5-3 win and added to a season total that now stands at 86 points.
On March 27, Crosby became the first player in NHL history to average a point per game in 20 different seasons, passing — yes — Wayne Gretzky. His legacy continues to grow, even as Pittsburgh fights for a postseason miracle.
“He’s our heartbeat,” said teammate Bryan Rust, who hit his own milestone Saturday with his 200th career goal.
After a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis on Thursday, Pittsburgh bounced back in style with four third-period goals against the Stars. If they beat Chicago, they’ll secure a winning record on this three-game road trip and stay mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
And now they get a shot at a shaky Chicago team.
Crosby, Malkin, and the Penguins’ Final Push
Evgeni Malkin returned to action in Dallas after a four-game injury absence, contributing an assist and adding veteran poise. If Malkin and Crosby are both firing, Pittsburgh becomes a far more dangerous squad.
But they’re running out of time. Sunday is the first of a home-and-home between these two teams — they’ll meet again Tuesday in Pittsburgh — and both games are must-wins for the Penguins if they want any realistic shot at the postseason.
With Crosby heating up, Rust on a roll, and Malkin back, this could be a tough outing for the Blackhawks, whose defense has been anything but dependable.
Game Breakdown: Penguins vs. Blackhawks
| Stat Category | Pittsburgh Penguins | Chicago Blackhawks |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 31-34-12 (74 pts) | 21-45-10 (52 pts) |
| Last 5 Games | 3-1-1 | 0-4-1 |
| Goals For (Last 5) | 18 | 10 |
| Top Scorer | Sidney Crosby (86 pts) | Connor Bedard (52 pts) |
| Goaltending | Jarry/Nedeljkovic | Mrazek/Söderblom |
| Playoff Chance | Still alive | Eliminated |
Chicago’s young core, led by Connor Bedard, has shown flashes, but they’ll need to play a clean, disciplined game to contain a surging Pittsburgh squad.
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