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Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues December 31st 2024
The Blues and Blackhawks are set to face off at 5:00 ET on TNT. The Blackhawks will host the game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. The Blues are favored by -1.5 in this Central division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.
St. Louis vs. Chicago Key Information
- Teams: Blues at Blackhawks
- Where: Wrigley Field Chicago
- Date: Tuesday, December 31st
- Betting Odds STL -142 | CHI +120 O/U 5.5
The Blues Can Win If…
With a 4-2 victory over the Maple Leafs, the Blues evened their record at 17-17-4. As underdogs on the puck line, St. Louis covered, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.
St. Louis fell behind early, but Colton Parayko’s goal at 16:31 in the second period tied it up. They scored three unanswered goals before the Maple Leafs added one in the third. Pavel Buchnevich sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:21 in the final period.
St. Louis’ offense was quiet in the first period but came alive in the second, scoring three times. Colton Parayko found the net twice, bringing his season total to three goals. He also added his fifth assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-netter, which was Buchnevich’s fourth goal of the season.
Jordan Kyrou scored his third goal of the year, while Ryan Suter picked up two assists, giving him three on the season. The Blues took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.
Defensively, the Blues will look to build on their previous performance, where they allowed just two goals to the Maple Leafs. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves, finishing with a 94.6% save percentage. The Blues’ defense also recorded 3 takeaways, 17 hits, and 17 blocks.
- St. Louis will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. In terms of betting, the team went 2-1 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
- Across St. Louis’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 6-4 and an over-under mark of 4-6.
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The Blackhawks Can Win If…
Chicago improved to 12-23-2 with a 4-2 win over the Ducks. 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, who held the Ducks scoreless until the third period. Isaak Phillips got things started at 7:03 in the first period.
Chicago’s offense put 29 shots on goal in their 4-2 victory over Anaheim. The Blackhawks scored twice in the first period, added a third goal in the second, and netted their final goal with 2:17 left in the game.
Ryan Donato scored his 7th goal of the season, while Seth Jones added his 2nd. Teuvo Teravainen found the net for the 4th time this year, and Isaak Phillips scored his first goal of the season. Connor Bedard contributed with his 7th, 8th, and 9th assists.
Defensively, the Blackhawks will look to build on their last game, where they allowed just 2 goals to Anaheim. Arvid Söderblom made 38 saves, finishing with a 95.0% save percentage. The defense also registered 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both of Anaheim’s goals came in the 3rd period, with the final one coming with just 4 seconds left.
- Through their last three regular season contests, Chicago has a record of 0-3. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 1-2, in addition to an over-under mark of 2-0-1.
- Over their last ten regular season games, the Blackhawks have gone 4-6 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 5-4-1.
The Lean
For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Blackhawks to pick up on a win over the Blues at home. With the moneyline sitting at +120, I’ll be locking in a 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.
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With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.
Blackhawks, Blues Battle in Winter Classic at Wrigley Field
The Chicago Blackhawks, mired in a four-game losing streak, are looking to turn their fortunes around in a unique setting as they host the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. This year’s game, shifting to New Year’s Eve for the first time, offers a fresh perspective for two teams in transition.
New Coaches, Same Rivalry
Both the Blackhawks and Blues are navigating seasons of change under interim coaches. Anders Sorensen leads Chicago, while Jim Montgomery is behind the bench for St. Louis. Despite their struggles, both teams see the Winter Classic as an opportunity to reset.
“Maybe something different, yeah. Switch it up,” Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones said. “It’s going to be a hectic couple of days, but once we hit the ice for the game, business starts.”
Blackhawks Seek Defensive Stability
Chicago enters the game with the NHL’s lowest point total (26) and has been plagued by defensive lapses. The team has surrendered 21 goals during its current skid, including five unanswered in a 5-1 loss to Dallas on Sunday.
“I feel like there’s been a lot of games something goes wrong and the game starts going the wrong way,” Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen said. “We just have to get better next shift. Got to be better. Everyone.”
Blues Eye Consistency
The Blues, hovering around .500, have struggled to find consistency. Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres marked their sixth failed attempt to win three straight games this season. Special teams have been a weak point; St. Louis went 0-for-4 on the power play and allowed two goals on the penalty kill in the loss.
“Our sticks haven’t been great on the penalty kill,” Montgomery said. “You’ve got to protect the middle of the ice and give our goalies a better chance at the saves that they should be expecting to see.”
Milestones and History
Blues defenseman Cam Fowler will make history as the first player to skate in his 1,000th NHL game during an outdoor contest. St. Louis is chasing its third Winter Classic victory, having previously defeated Chicago in 2017 and Minnesota in 2022.
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The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are 1-4 in outdoor games, including a 6-4 loss to Detroit at Wrigley Field in the 2009 Winter Classic.
A Chance for Renewal
The outdoor spectacle at the iconic Wrigley Field presents a chance for both teams to regroup. With their rivalry adding to the excitement, the stage is set for a memorable clash as both squads aim to make a statement heading into the second half of the season.
“It’s special to have the Blues vs. Chicago in the outdoor game, Wrigley Field,” Blues forward Brayden Schenn said. “The whole thing just adds up.”
