Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) controls the puck as St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) defends during the first period at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Chicago Blackhawks (13-11-6) face the St. Louis Blues (11-14-7) Friday. Puck drop from Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, is set for 8 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Blackhawks vs. Blues odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Blackhawks lead 1-0 after an 8-3 laugher as +203 road dogs Oct. 15.

The Blackhawks shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 as +129 home dogs Wednesday. That snapped a string of 7 losses in 9 games (2-5-2). C Connor Bedard scored his 19th goal of the season and LW Tyler Bertuzzi scored his 16th. This team is decent, ranking 10th on the power play at 22.2% and sixth at 83.8% on the penalty kill. The addition of G Spencer Knight has shored up the back end as well as the Blackhawks are16th with 2.97 goals allowed per game.

The Blues are a mess. They were embarrassed 7-2 at the Nashville Predators on Thursday night as +113 dogs. C Robert Thomas scored his seventh goal of the season and third in 2 games. They're without 5 forwards, including perennial leading goal-scorer RW Jordan Kyrou (knee). They've now lost 2 straight and are just 5-7-4 on home ice.

Watch the NHL on Fubo!

Blackhawks at Blues odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:30 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Blackhawks -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Blues -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +1.5 (-250) | Blues -1.5 (+200)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Blackhawks at Blues projected goalies

Spencer Knight (10-6-5, 2.50 GAA, .917 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Joel Hofer (4-6-2, 3.17 GAA, .890 SV%, 2 SO)

Knight shut out the Rangers on Wednesday, stopping all 21 shots fired his way. He was pummeled for 6 goals on 32 shots against the LA Kings in the previous outing, though. He beat the Blues 3-2 on Feb. 6 last season, stopping 20 of 22 shots.

Hofer has been the better of the goalie tandem of late with a 2.26 GAA and .929 SV% in 2 starts (4 games) this month. He was called upon for the third period Thursday and stopped 6 of 7 fired his way. He was ransacked for 7 goals on 22 shots in his second start of the season against the 'Hawks Oct. 15.

Blackhawks at Blues picks and predictions

Prediction

Blackhawks 5, Blues 2

Moneyline

The Blues have scored 2 goals or fewer in 12 of 14 games. They're 30th in the league at 2.53 goals per game and 31st with 3.56 goals allowed per game. So, it's a little surprising to see them favored here because the only shot they have is if Hofer stands on his head.

Take the BLACKHAWKS (-105).

Puck line/Against the spread

The Blackhawks are at a great value on the ML so PASS.

Over/Under

The Blues are what makes this one tricky because of their aforementioned anemic offense. They're 5-5 O/U in their last 10, but the Blackhawks are 7-3.

It'll be close, but take OVER 6 (-105).

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @rdodsonsports on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Ryan Dodson, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect