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The Florida Panthers (5-2-2) and Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-0) will meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. EDT at United Center in Chicago, Ill. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Panthers are favored at -188 on the moneyline, with the Blackhawks at +155 to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 6.5 (+104o / -128u).
Let's get into our Panthers vs. Blackhawks predictions and NHL picks.
Panthers vs. Blackhawks Prediction
- Pick: Blackhawks +1.5 (-162, FanDuel)
Our Florida vs. Chicago best bet is on the Blackhawks to cover the puck line, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your NHL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NHL odds page.
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Panthers vs Blackhawks Odds
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +130 | 6.5 104o / -128u | -188 |
| Blackhawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -162 | 6.5 104o / -128u | +155 |
- Panthers vs. Blackhawks puck line: -1.5 (+130), +1.5 (-162)
- Panthers vs. Blackhawks over/under: 6.5 (+104o / -132u)
- Panthers vs. Blackhawks moneyline: Panthers -188, Blackhawks +155
Panthers vs. Blackhawks Preview
This is a strong fit for Early Road Puckline:
The system looks for early-season road favorites, within the first 15 games, who are still finding their rhythm, and the Panthers check every box: they have played 11 games, they are traveling, and the market is asking them to win by two or more goals.
The system's argument is that these teams often win but don't separate, since travel and a lack of midseason chemistry make big margins harder to get, and Florida's current road trip is a clear example of that dynamic.
Lines like this tend to reflect the Panthers' reputation more than their current form. Florida has gone from scoring 18 goals in three games to scoring one in two, and Markstrom's injury leaves Florida's goaltending in flux, with Black making his NHL debut just three days ago, against a Chicago offense that has Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane back together.
Chicago doesn't need to win to cash this. It only needs to keep the game within one goal, or win outright, and Knight stopped 31 shots against Winnipeg and 24 against Montreal. A Florida team that needs two goals of separation also has to do it with an uncertain situation in net and a road trip that has gone badly.
The risk is that Chicago has lost seven of ten and went 0-for-5 on the power play against Montreal. If Florida's top line finds its rhythm early, the Blackhawks could fall behind by multiple goals, and an empty-netter in the final minutes can turn a one-goal game into a two-goal cover for the visitors.
However, the Panthers have struggled on this trip and could very well fall flat this afternoon.
Best Bet: Blackhawks +1.5 (-162, FanDuel)
