Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Utah -1½ +125 over Chicago

8:30 PM EST The Mammoth come into this game playing excellent hockey, having won three straight and four of their last five. Their only loss during that stretch came against this same Chicago team in a 4-0 defeat, but that result is not something we’re putting much weight into. That was simply one of those nights where Utah showed up in body only and never got going. Chicago capitalized and got the win, but it was more about Utah being flat than Chicago suddenly becoming a dangerous team.

In fact, that victory over Utah was Chicago’s only win in their last seven games, and the Blackhawks have just two wins in their last 13 overall. This team is sinking fast, and the scheduling situation isn’t doing them any favors either. Since the Olympic break Chicago has been on a brutal travel run: Colorado at altitude, then Utah, then Winnipeg, back home for one game against Vancouver, then at Dallas, and now back home again against Utah. This will be their third game in four nights and the tail end of a back-to-back, which is never a good spot for a struggling team that’s already running low on energy.

Utah, meanwhile, continues to drive play at an elite level. The Mammoth rank 5th in the entire NHL in offensive-zone puck possession during 5-on-5 play, which is one of the most important indicators of sustained offensive pressure. Only four teams in the league rank ahead of them in that category. Chicago, by comparison, sits near the bottom at 29th, meaning they spend far more time defending than attacking. Over the long run, that kind of possession gap usually leads to exactly what we expect here — one team controlling the game while the other spends the night trying to survive.

The chances of Utah showing up flat against Chicago two games in a row are extremely slim, especially with the Mammoth looking to reassert themselves after that embarrassing loss earlier in the week. Utah is simply the better team in almost every meaningful category, while Chicago is tired, struggling, and stuck in a brutal schedule spot. With Utah’s ability to control the puck and Chicago’s current form, we’ll back the Mammoth to win this game comfortably.

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