Utah Mammoth vs. Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, NHL Odds
Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks can only play spoilers the rest of the regular season as they host the playoff-hopeful Mammoth on Monday night. Utah is -205 on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5.
Mammoth vs. Blackhawks NHL Betting Odds
It’s a typically light Monday around the NHL with just five games. Chicago is under a first-year coach in Jeff Blashill and will miss the post-season for a sixth straight campaign. The rebuild is going a bit slowly around Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The Blackhawks have one of the best farm systems in the sport and will be picking very high again in this year’s draft, maybe No. 1 again, so they shouldn’t be too far from a return to playoff contention.
The Utah franchise hasn’t played extra hockey since the 2020-21 season when it was still located in Arizona, but that drought will end. The Mammoth as of Monday hold down the Western Conference’s top wild card spot but likely won’t get any higher because they play in the wrong division. They would be battling for the Pacific Division title currently but are fourth in the top-heavy Central.
Utah is -1600 to reach the playoffs, so not much value betting that. Monday marks the third of four meetings between these clubs with the Blackhawks leading 2-0 – taking each by multiple goals (one home, one away). Bedard didn’t have a point in either. Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom each got a win in net.
Overall, the franchises have split the past 10 meetings dating to the Coyotes days, and the over-under is 6-3-1 (both under this season).
Utah Mammoth
Utah is 3-0 on a five-game trip following a 5-4 OT victory in Columbus on Saturday. Logan Cooley’s second goal of the game at 2:08 of overtime was the winner. It was Cooley’s fourth multi-goal game of the season and second overtime tally of his NHL career. Utah improved to 8-4 in the extra frame.
Earlier, Dylan Guenther had his team-leading 29th goal of the season. It was also his 14th go-ahead goal, tied for the second-most in the NHL. Guenther has eight points in his last six road games.
Former Calgary Flames blueliner MacKenzie Weegar had an assist, two hits and three blocked shots in his team debut after coming over from trade. Weegar led all skaters with 23:21 time on ice.
Karel Vejmelka became the 10th Czech goaltender to register 100 career NHL wins and first in the league this season to get to 30 victories. Vejmelka should be in there tonight as he rarely gets a game off. Utah is 6-2 in its past eight away.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago lost a third straight game Sunday, 4-3 in OT in Dallas. The Blackhawks were up 2-0 not even midway through the first period but needed Connor Bedard’s 26th goal of the season at 18:40 of the third to force overtime. Sunday was Bedard’s 200th career NHL game and marked the 24th time he factored on a game-tying goal, which leads all Blackhawks skaters since his debut in 2023-24. Miro Heiskanen won it at 0:22 of OT.
Teuvo Teravainen and Frank Nazar each had two assists for Chicago, which is 1-3-2 since the Olympic break. Backup Arvid Soderblom was in net Sunday, so it should be No. 1 Spencer Knight in this one – although he has been dealing with a bit of an illness. Knight is 10-9-4 with a 2.47 GAA at home this season. Centre Oliver Moore (19 points) left Sunday injured and will not play. Chicago is 2-8 in its past 10 at home.
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