The Chicago Blackhawks host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
The pregame narrative: The Lightning hope to come out of Friday’s contest with two points and maintain their wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. I’m backing Tampa forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel while fading the Hawks’ Teuvo Teravainen.
Check out my Lightning vs. Blackhawks props for Jan. 24.
Lightning vs. Blackhawks prop picks
Go to full NHL betting markets.
Best bet: Hagel over 2.5 shots (-143)
Hagel has become one of the more underrated players in the NHL even after making the Canadian 4 Nations team, coached by a familiar face in Jon Cooper.
The Saskatoon native is coming off back-to-back 60-point seasons, including his first 30-goal campaign in 2022-23.
His 133 shots this season are on pace to smash his 173 career 82-game average.
The Blackhawks rank 30th in shots allowed/per game (31.2) and allow the most high-danger goals per 60 (1.74), according to Natural Stat Trick.
Key stat: Hagel has cleared this mark in five of the last six games.
Quick picks
Kucherov over 0.5 power-play points (-130): Father time is undefeated, but Kucherov is aging just fine.
After a marvellous 144-point season a year ago, the now 31-year-old is putting up similar numbers, pacing just below that mark.
Kucherov reached the 70-point mark last game against the Montreal Canadiens and leads Tampa with 27 power-play points.
Chicago allows the fourth-most goals/game (3.43), including ample high-danger opportunities, as previously mentioned.
The Lightning own the sixth-ranked power play (26.7%) and score the most goals/game in the NHL (3.61).
Teravainen under 0.5 points (-130): I’ve yet to mention that the Hawks have trouble on offence as well.
- 31st in goals/game: 2.6
- 32nd in shots/game: 25.1
- T21st in shooting percentage: 10.3%
Teravainen and company will try to score on the 10th-ranked goaltending tandem, with a season team goals-against average of 2.83.
The Finn has just 33 points in 47 games this season in his first year with Chicago.
Picks made at 2:40 p.m. ET on 01/24/2025.
