The Chicago Blackhawks return to home ice at the United Center this Sunday looking to bounce back from their recent 5-3 loss to the Devils, but they'll have their hands full against a Utah Hockey Club team desperate for redemption after being shut out 8-0 by the Lightning.
With Chicago's power play clicking at an impressive 25.75% and goaltender Spencer Knight bringing a .905 save percentage to the crease, they might just have enough firepower to challenge the visitors despite their underdog status.
The betting lines suggest a tight contest at United Center with Utah carrying a slight edge, but recent performance trends point toward an intriguing showdown between the hometown Blackhawks vs road-weary Utah.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Chicago Blackhawks vs Utah matchup, our predictive model gives the Hawks a 57.5% chance of defeating the Hockey Club.
Pre-game probabilities
Chicago Blackhawks
Moneyline
Win %
57.5%
42.5%
Utah
Chicago Blackhawks: 57.5% win probability
- Home ice advantage boosting confidence despite overall record (teams typically win 5-10% more at home)
- Recent motivation after tough season (LLWLL showing signs of fight in recent games)
- Better scoring efficiency with 199 goals despite being last in Western Conference (Utah has only 204 goals with more games played)
Utah: 42.5% win probability
- Poor recent form with three consecutive losses before two wins (LLLWW shows inconsistency)
- Defensive struggles allowing 226 goals against (ranked 11th in Western Conference)
- Road game disadvantage for a team with below .500 record (travel factor impacts performance)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Chicago Blackhawks | Utah | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah preview
The struggling Chicago Blackhawks (21-42-9) host the Utah Hockey Club (32-29-11) at United Center this Sunday in what could be a bounce-back opportunity for both squads.
Utah's coming off an absolute nightmare performance, getting blanked 8-0 by the Lightning despite firing 25 shots on goal - their offense desperately needs to rediscover its touch.
Chicago hasn't fared much better lately, dropping their most recent contest 5-3 to the Devils, though their power play remains a bright spot with an impressive 25.75% conversion rate this season.
Between the pipes, Karel Vejmelka is expected to start for Utah with his .899 career save percentage, while Spencer Knight likely gets the nod for the Blackhawks sporting a slightly better .905 career mark.
The betting public seems to favor Utah (-132), but Chicago's home-ice advantage and the Hockey Club's recent offensive no-show makes this one tougher to call than the odds suggest.
Utah's been outscored 221-202 on the season, while Chicago's goals differential looks even worse at 257-195.
With Chicago's tendency to generate high-danger chances (11.09% shooting percentage) and Utah's defensive vulnerabilities, don't be shocked if the home underdogs pull off an upset at the United Center.
Smart money might actually be on the Blackhawks at that tempting +110 value, especially if they can capitalize on the man advantage against Utah's penalty kill.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah form
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah head to head
Chicago Blackhawks
17%
Utah
33%
Mar 8, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks
4 : 3
Utah
Feb 26, 2025
Utah
2 : 1
Chicago Blackhawks
Oct 9, 2024
Utah
5 : 2
Chicago Blackhawks
