Vancouver heads to Chicago on Friday night with the Blackhawks priced as the home favorite. Chicago is -154 on the moneyline, while Vancouver comes back +128. The puck line is shaded toward a Canucks +1.5 (-205), and the market is dealing a 6.5 total with the under juiced.
Standings-wise, this matchup sits in the bottom half of the West: Chicago enters with 56 points (13th in the Western Conference), and Vancouver has 43 points (16th). Recent form has been rough for both, but Vancouver’s defensive profile and special teams have been especially shaky.
Odds & Game Info
Odds as of 9:15 a.m. ET on March 6, 2026. Odds are from Bookmaker.
| Market | Vancouver Canucks | Chicago Blackhawks |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-205) | -1.5 (+160) |
| Moneyline | +128 | -154 |
| Total (6.5) | Over 6.5 (+112) | Under 6.5 (-138) |
Game location: United Center (Chicago)
Scheduled start: 8:30 p.m. ET (with a listed puck drop time of 8:40 p.m. ET)
Starting goalies (not team-confirmed): Kevin Lankinen (VAN), Spencer Knight (CHI)
Injury updates:
- Blackhawks: Andrew Mangiapane (day-to-day, not injury related), Teuvo Teravainen (day-to-day, undisclosed), Shea Weber (out for season, ankle)
- Canucks: Derek Forbort (out, undisclosed), Filip Chytil (out, face), Thatcher Demko (out for season, hip), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (out, upper body), Evander Kane (day-to-day, illness)
Team Records
Here’s where each team stands entering March 6.
| Team | Record | Last 10 | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | 18-36-7 (Road: 12-17-2) | 1-7-2 | 27-34-0 | 34-27 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 23-28-10 | 2-6-2 | 38-23-0 | 25-36 |
Team Stats
Season-long scoring and special teams snapshot.
| Team | Goals per game | Goals allowed per game | Power play % | Penalty kill % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | 2.51 | 3.74 | 18.38% | 70.00% |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 2.62 | 3.11 | 19.66% | 85.79% |
Recaps
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver comes in leaking goals (3.74 allowed per game) and sitting last in penalty kill efficiency (70.0%), which is a tough combo for a road underdog. Offensively, the Canucks are bottom-two in scoring (2.51 goals per game) despite a respectable shot volume (26.4 shots per game).
The goalie situation is a major constraint: Thatcher Demko is listed out for the season, and the listed starter Kevin Lankinen has a 7-20-4 record with a 3.38 GAA and .873 save percentage. Vancouver’s most recent stretch includes losses to Dallas (6-1) and Carolina (6-4), which fits the current defensive profile.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago’s calling card is special teams defense: the Blackhawks own the league’s top penalty kill at 85.79%, and that matters against a Vancouver team that has struggled to keep games clean and to survive short-handed. Spencer Knight is the listed starter and has been steadier in the crease (16-18-8, 2.61 GAA, .907 SV%).
The Blackhawks’ offense is still below average (2.62 goals per game), and they generate the fewest shots in the NHL (24.5 per game). That creates a narrower margin for error at even strength, especially when laying a moneyline price.
Matchup Keys
- Special teams gap: Chicago PK (85.79%) vs Vancouver PK (70.0%) is a major edge in a game lined at 6.5.
- Goaltending edge: listed starters show Knight (2.61 GAA, .907 SV%) significantly ahead of Lankinen (3.38 GAA, .873 SV%).
- Shot volume profile: Vancouver gets more pucks on net (26.4 SOG/G) than Chicago (24.5), but Vancouver also allows slightly more (29.9 SA/G vs Chicago 29.4).
- Recent form: Vancouver is 1-7-2 in its last 10; Chicago is 2-6-2, so this is more about matchup edges than momentum.
- Rest and travel: Vancouver is traveling after playing March 4; Chicago last played March 3 and is back home with extra rest.
Betting Trends
- Vancouver has a road record of 12-17-2.
- Vancouver is 1-7-2 in its last 10 games.
- Chicago is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games.
- Vancouver ranks near the bottom in scoring (2.51 goals per game).
- Vancouver allows 3.74 goals per game, worst in the league.
- Chicago’s penalty kill is 85.79%, best in the NHL.
- Vancouver’s penalty kill is 70.0%, last in the NHL.
- Chicago generates 24.5 shots per game, last in the NHL, which can limit puck-line separation even when controlling results.
Best Bet
Chicago Blackhawks moneyline (-154).
The cleanest edge on this board is in net and on the penalty kill: the listed goalie matchup favors Chicago, and the special teams profile heavily favors the Blackhawks against a Vancouver PK sitting at 70.0%. Vancouver’s defensive baseline (3.74 goals allowed per game) also creates a higher likelihood that Chicago gets to three goals without needing an outlier shooting night. With Chicago’s low shot volume, I would rather play the moneyline than rely on a multi-goal win.
Predicted Score
Our computer projections model for this matchup predicts a final score of Blackhawks 3, Canucks 2
21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.