Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview

Opening Moneyline: Phoenix +165 / Chicago -185 O/U 5.5 goals

Tonight in the Chicago Blackhawks host the red-hot Phoenix Coyotes. The Blackhawks have lost 2 games in a row, but they are 6-4 in their last 10 games and hold a comfortable 12-point lead over the Nashville Predators in the Central Division. The Coyotes are on fire lately, as they have won 5 games in a row and are 9-1 in their last 10 games. Phoenix is in 2nd place in the Pacific Division trailing the San Jose Sharks by 10 points.

This season Chicago is 21-6-1 at home and Phoenix is 13-10-3 on the road.

In their last games Chicago lost to the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Wednesday night and Phoenix beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 on Tuesday night.

With a win tonight Chicago will avoid their first 3-game losing streak this season.

Phoenix has lost 6 of their last 7 games against Chicago and has lost their last 4 games in Chicago.

In their win streak Phoenix is not scoring a ton of goals, but they are winning with defense and in 4 of their last 5 wins they have won by 1 goal or in a shootout.

The Coyotes will have to win with their defense, as they only rank 17th in the league in scoring (2.61 goals per game). The Coyotes do not have one player that ranks in the top 20 in the league is goals or points.

Phoenix G Ilya Bryzgalov (30 wins 2.29 GAA save percentage 92%) has been playing well all season and in his last 3 games he has a GAA of only 1.26. He will have his work cut out in this game, as Chicago has the 4th ranked offense averaging 3.16 goals per game.

Chicago's offense is led by Patrick Kane, who leads the team in goals (22), assists (39), and points (61).

The Blackhawks' defense is solid, as they rank 2nd in the league only allowing an average of 2.29 goals per game.

Chicago G Cristobal Huet (24 wins 2.33 GAA save percentage 90.2%) is expected to get the start tonight in goal and in his career against Phoenix he has gone 5-1-0 with a GAA of 2.12 GAA.

Phoenix is 6-0 in their last 6 games against Western Conference teams, has an Over record of 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, and has an Under record of 8-2-1 in their last 11 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than 60%.

Chicago is 19-7 in their last 26 against teams with a winning record, has an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 home games, and has an Over record of 6-1-1 in their last 8 games against teams with a winning record.