The Chicago Blackhawks look to avoid a fifth straight loss when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, and have now been outscored by a wide 11-2 margin in two outings to open the New Year.

The Avalanche have made speedy gains on the NHL odds since opening as -216 favourites, vaulting to -240 chalk thanks to the support of 97% of sports bettors. Accordingly, the Blackhawks have tumbled to a lengthy +199 bet. The total has held steady since opening at 6.0. However, the OVER has attracted 81% of the action in totals betting.

Avalanche vs. Blackhawks NHL Betting Odds

Tuesday night’s matchup at United Center marks the second of four regular season meetings between these Western Conference rivals. The Blackhawks dropped a 4-2 decision in Colorado on opening night, marking their sixth defeat in eight dates with the Avs. Chicago has fared no better in head-to-head action on home ice, losing four of five while scoring just nine total goals. Despite those offensive woes, the OVER has gone 3-1-1 over the past five meetings between these clubs. The OVER is also a steady 6-2 in the Blackhawks’ past eight games. That is largely attributable to a porous Blackhawks defence that has surrendered 4.13 goals per game over that stretch.

Currently the highest scoring team in the NHL by a wide margin, the Avalanche have managed to fill the net despite producing uneven results on the road. The club has averaged five goals per game during a 3-1-1 run, and have seen the OVER go 10-3-1 on the road this season.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche needed to overcome a slow start in their first contest in 17 days, spotting the Ducks an early 2-0 lead before storming back with three goals in the final period to seal the 4-2 win. The duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen did most of the damage. Rantanen tallied a goal and an assist, and has now racked up five goals and nine assists during a seven-game points streak. MacKinnon contributed assists on all three third-period goals, and has now piled up eight helpers over his past four outings. The duo have also tallied a combined 15 points over their past four appearances versus Chicago.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have sorely missed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was activated this week after spending time on the team’s COVID list. It remains unclear whether Fleury will be ready on Tuesday to make his first appearance since December 17. Even with rust, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner would be an upgrade over the overmatched starting tandem of Collin Delia and Arvid Soderblom, who combined to stop just 56 of 66 total shots over the past two games.

Now set to play their third game in four nights, the Blackhawks need their top stars to start contributing. The trio of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Seth Jones have potted just five total goals since the end of November.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Blackhawks?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

CHI

Points	Patrick Kane 92
+ / -	Kurtis Gabriel 0
Shots	Patrick Kane 287
Penalty Mins	Connor Murphy 47
Wins	Kevin Lankinen 8
GAA	Kevin Lankinen 3.5

COL

Points	Cale Makar 10
+ / -	Erik Johnson 6
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 37
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 10
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 3
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 1.67

CHI

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Blackhawks Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

CHI

Points	Patrick Kane 92
+ / -	Kurtis Gabriel 0
Shots	Patrick Kane 287
Penalty Mins	Connor Murphy 47
Wins	Kevin Lankinen 8
GAA	Kevin Lankinen 3.5

COL

Points	Cale Makar 10
+ / -	Erik Johnson 6
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 37
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 10
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 3
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 1.67

CHI

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

Injuries

Colorado

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Prob Tues Eye - 07 / 05 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Pavel Francouz (G)

Ques Sun Face - 23 / 04 / 22

Mikko Rantanen (RW)

Prob Thurs Illness - 20 / 04 / 22

Erik Johnson (D)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 18 / 04 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 18 / 04 / 22

Devon Toews (D)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 17 / 04 / 22

Devon Toews (D)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 09 / 04 / 22

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Prob Fri Illness - 05 / 04 / 22

Artturi Lehkonen (LW)

Prob Tues Personal - 23 / 03 / 22

Chicago

Calvin de Haan (D)

Out Fri Undisclosed - 29 / 04 / 22

Collin Delia (G)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 04 / 22

Mackenzie Entwistle (RW)

out for season Shoulder - 18 / 04 / 22

Kirby Dach (C)

out for season Shoulder - 15 / 04 / 22

Collin Delia (G)

Ques Mon Personal - 15 / 04 / 22

Calvin de Haan (D)

Prob Thurs Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 22

Kirby Dach (C)

Ques Thurs Illness - 28 / 03 / 22

Connor Murphy (D)

out for season Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22

Tyler Johnson (C)

Prob Mon Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22

Calvin de Haan (D)

Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 25 / 02 / 22

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Prob Tues	Eye - 07 / 05 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Kuemper is tending to a eye injury, but it is likely that he will be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Cogliano is managing an upper-body issue, but it is expected that he will be available against the Blues for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.
Pavel Francouz (G)	Ques Sun	Face - 23 / 04 / 22	4-7	6-5	+ -
Francouz is tending to a face injury, and it is unknown if he will be available for Sunday's contest against the Jets.
Mikko Rantanen (RW)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 20 / 04 / 22	4-8	6-6	+ -
Rantanen has been held out of the last four contests due to an illness, but it is anticipated that he will take part in Thursday's showdown versus the Predators.
Erik Johnson (D)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 18 / 04 / 22	5-8	7-6	+ -
Johnson has missed the previous four games with a lower-body injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for Sunday's battle with the Jets.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 18 / 04 / 22	5-8	7-6	+ -
Cogliano was held out of the last contest with an unspecified issue, and it has yet to be established if he will take on the Kraken on Wednesday.
Devon Toews (D)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 17 / 04 / 22	6-8	7-7	+ -
Toews has been out of commission with an unspecified ailment, but he is expected to suit up against the Blues on Tuesday.
Devon Toews (D)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 09 / 04 / 22	7-10	9-8	+ -
Toews is hindered by an unspecified injury, but he is expected to take part in Saturday's matchup with the Oilers.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Prob Fri	Illness - 05 / 04 / 22	8-11	10-9	+ -
Nichushkin sat out the last contest due to an illness, but it is likely that he will face the Jets on Friday.
Artturi Lehkonen (LW)	Prob Tues	Personal - 23 / 03 / 22	11-14	11-14	+ -
Lehkonen has sat out the last three contests due to an immigration issue, but it is projected that he will face the Flames on Tuesday.

Chicago

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Calvin de Haan (D)	Out Fri	Undisclosed - 29 / 04 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
de Haan is dealing with a undisclosed injury, and he will not suit up against the Sabres on Friday.
Collin Delia (G)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 22 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Delia exited the previous game due to an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up Saturday versus the Sharks.
Mackenzie Entwistle (RW)	out for season	Shoulder - 18 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Entwistle is idle with a right shoulder injury, and he is expected to remain sidelined for the rest of the season.
Kirby Dach (C)	out for season	Shoulder - 15 / 04 / 22	4-5	6-3	+ -
Dach is out of the lineup due to a shoulder sprain, and he will not be available for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Collin Delia (G)	Ques Mon	Personal - 15 / 04 / 22	4-5	6-3	+ -
Delia was absent for the last game due to a personal family matter, and it is up in the air if he will be available for Monday's game against the Flames.
Calvin de Haan (D)	Prob Thurs	Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 22	4-6	7-3	+ -
de Haan sat out the last game with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will play against the Sharks on Thursday.
Kirby Dach (C)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 28 / 03 / 22	5-11	10-6	+ -
Dach sat out the previous contest with an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up Thursday against the Panthers.
Connor Murphy (D)	out for season	Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22	10-13	14-8-1	+ -
Murphy has been assigned to the long-term injured reserve list due to a concussion, and he will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Tyler Johnson (C)	Prob Mon	Concussion - 12 / 03 / 22	10-13	14-8-1	+ -
Johnson has wound up on the injured reserve list with a concussion, but it is projected that he will return to the lineup Monday versus the Sabres.
Calvin de Haan (D)	Prob Thurs	Undisclosed - 25 / 02 / 22	14-16	20-9-1	+ -
de Haan has sat out the last two contests due to an unannounced injury, but it is projected that he will be active Thursday versus the Oilers.