Chicago scored twice in the first period against Colorado on Monday, then watched the Avalanche tie it in 26 seconds. Against Florida on Wednesday, the Blackhawks need to keep creating chances after the first rush so a quick lead can hold up.
Chicago has to keep creating chances after the first push
Connor Bedard extended his point streak to six games by setting up Roman Kantserov on a two-on-one. Chicago had already scored through Wyatt Kaiser, but Colorado scored the next five goals, including a power-play tally for the lead, according to the Associated Press recap. Defenseman Bowen Byram went on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury. Watch whether Chicago can get pucks out cleanly and give Bedard more chances to attack before Florida sets up.
DraftKings listed Florida at −258 and Chicago at +210 on the moneyline at 11:25 a.m. ET Wednesday. Florida won the first meeting 3–2 in Chicago and has scored five goals in each of two recent wins over Winnipeg. Detroit broke a tie Monday by scoring twice in 45 seconds early in the third. Florida’s Jacob Markström made 24 saves in the 5–3 loss and is confirmed to start Wednesday. The AP recap of the Detroit game also notes that Florida pulled within one late with an extra attacker before Detroit scored into the empty net.
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What it takes to get to seven goals
DraftKings had the over at +120 and the under at −142 on 6.5 goals in the same snapshot. The first meeting ended with five combined goals. Chicago scored two or fewer in four of its last five games, so Florida could control this one and still need a big night of its own to push the total over.
Monday showed how quickly that math changes. Chicago’s game reached seven on an empty-net goal after Colorado took control, and Florida’s reached eight when Detroit scored into the empty net. If Chicago gets another early goal off the rush and can keep generating chances, the rematch has more room to reach seven. If those chances dry up, Florida can win without the score getting there.
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