Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Prediction, Friday, October 17, 2025
Use Code SSWC We have a Western Conference showdown in the NHL on Friday night, so strap in and peep our Canucks vs. Blackhawks predictions to get in the game. Vancouver (1-2-0, 2 pts.) got dropped by St. Louis, 5-2, at home on Monday night. Chicago (2-2-1, 5 pts.) went to St. Louis on Wednesday night and shellacked the Blues, 8-3. This matchup will get rolling with an 8:30 EST opening faceoff from the United Center. If you’re looking to cross-check the books and put some cash in your pocket, check out our free NHL picks.
(This was published prior to the conclusion of Thursday’s games.)
Canucks still ramping up
The Canucks still had a Thursday night tilt in Dallas to deal with, but before that had lost two straight following their season-opening win. On Monday versus St. Louis, they were within a goal late in the second before the Blues pulled away. Vancouver had 29 shots and six penalties in the loss, and they allowed 36 shots.
Through three games, the Vancouver offense averaged 2.67 goals per game, 26th in the league. In terms of shots, they averaged 23.3 a game, the fifth-lowest mark in the league. Heading into Thursday, they were one of just two teams in the league without a power play goal, though they did score a short-hander last game. Kiefer Sherwood accounted for both of the team’s goals on Monday night, and he has a team-high three goals. Arshdeep Bains and Jake DeBrusk each had two assists.
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On the defensive end, the Canucks are allowing 3.00 goals per game, 17th in the league, and they’ve allowed 30.3 shots per game, ninth most in the league. The defense has blocked 49 shots through three games and averaged 27.3 hits a night. On the penalty kill, they’ve given up one goal in 12 chances. Quinn Hughes is putting in 25:52 of ice time a night and Filip Hroneck, 24:30. Thatcher Demko has a 1.54 goals against average in two starts but is scheduled to start on Thursday. That would put Kevn Lankinen, who has a 4.09 GAA, between the pipes in Chicago.
Injury report
- C Teddy Blueger (undisclosed) day-to-day
- LW Nils Hoglander (lower body) IR
- LD Pierre-Olivier Joseph (undisclosed) IR
- LD Jett Woo (upper body) IR
- RD Derek Forbort (undisclosed) IR
- RD Guillaume Brisebois (lower body) IR
Blackhawks figure things out
The Blackhawks get the weekend at home after making the most of their mid-week visit to St. Louis. They scored at least two goals a period against St. Louis on Wednesday en route to a season-high eight goals. They only needed 29 shots on goal to pull off the feat, and on the defensive end, they allowed 26 shots.
The Chicago offense ranks eighth in the league, averaging 3.6 goals per game while also ranking 30th in shots with an average of just 21.6 per game. The team has recorded three goals on the power play, including one on Wednesday, and they have not scored shorthanded. Lukas Reichel scored twice against the Blues and is one of five multi-goal scorers for the team, Ilya Mikheyev leading the group with three. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar each have two goals and four assists to lead the team with six points.
The team has allowed an average of 2.8 goals per game, 12th in the NHL. Opponents also average 29.2 shots per game against the Blackhawks, the eighth most in the league. On the penalty kill, Chicago has allowed four goals in 22 chances. Alex Vlasic has a team-high 21:07 time on ice average, collecting two assists along the way. Colton Dach leads the league with 27 hits. Spencer Knight is expected to get the nod in this game. He has a 2.35 goals against average in three starts this season.
Injury report
- LW Nick Foligno (personal) out
- LW Landon Slaggert (lower body) IR
- RW Joey Anderson (lower body) IR
- RD Shea Weber (ankle) IR
- G Laurent Brossoit (hip) IR
Canucks vs. Blackhawks Picks
Moneyline Pick for Canucks vs. Blackhawks
- Blackhawks +115 (5 units)
The Canucks have owned the Blackhawks over the last few seasons, rattling off ten straight wins against them. Chicago has very much been in the rebuilding stage during that stretch, but now things are starting to come together for the young group and Vancouver is the one reeling. The Canucks had just four different goal scorers through three games, so they aren’t getting contributions from enough people at this point. Chicago has had 12 different players find the back of the net already. Then there is the fact that Vancouver has to play on Thursday night, then fly to Chicago from Dallas overnight. This is where Chicago breaks the streak.
Take the Blackhawks.
Over/Under Pick for Canucks vs. Blackhawks
- Over 6.5 (5 units)
In three games between the teams last season, the over went 2-1, and they averaged a combined 7.3 goals per game. The one game played in Chicago had a total of nine goals scored. Vancouver scored five goals in their season opener, then only three combined over their next two games. They will have a game on Thursday night to kind of hash things out a bit and hopefully get more players involved in the offense. I’m not expecting a ton out of the Canucks here, but I think they can get a couple to help the cause. Chicago is starting to puff its chest out now, especially in the wake of their eight-goal performance on Wednesday. With 12 different goal scorers, they’ve already proven to be a tough team to defend. The over is 4-2 in the last six meetings between the teams.
Take the over.
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