Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks: Betting Odds, Analysis, NHL Preview

The Anaheim Ducks (44-23-13) have not enjoyed much recent success against the Chicago Blackhawks (50-22-8), but they are catching them at a good time with a lot on the line Thursday, and they aresmall -130 home favorites (bet $130 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.The Blackhawks essentially have nothing to play for after clinching the top seed in the Western Conference, while the Ducks can win the Pacific Division title with their third straight victory and if the San Jose Sharks beat the Edmonton Oilers.Anaheim leads Edmonton by four points thanks to a 9-0-3 run, with one of the losses during that stretch coming on the road against the Oilers, costing the team the season series.The Ducks have also dropped five of the past six meetings with Chicago dating back to the 2015 Western Conference Final, according to the OddsShark NHL Database, but they did win the teams' last matchup, 1-0 at the United Center in March, and could take two of three this year with a victory.The Blackhawks have lost four of six overall, although the two wins came versus the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets by a combined score of 8-2 to help them earn the No. 1 seed in the West. Chicago's last two losses both occurred after the Minnesota Wild sealed the deal with a 3-0 road loss Saturday to the Nashville Predators.The Blackhawks are coming off a 4-3 overtime defeat against the last-place Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.With this game obviously meaning more to Anaheim, bettors can expect the best from the home team. Chicago backup goalie Scott Darling started at Colorado and made 47 saves in a losing effort, and the visitors may look to rest their top players in the last two regular-season games.The Blackhawks wrap up on Saturday by visiting the Los Angeles Kings in a game that means nothing, with each team's postseason fate decided.The Ducks have lost the previous three home meetings with Chicago, and at least five goals have been scored in each game. The total pushed on five twice at online betting sites, and the under is 2-0 in the other two most recent meetings overall following a 4-0 over run.
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