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Flames vs Blackhawks Picks and Predictions – Thursday January 15, 2026
Calgary closes a rough road trip Thursday night in Chicago, and the angle for bettors is pretty simple: can the Flames bring a full 60 after fading late in multiple spots, or do the Blackhawks’ top-end skill tilt another one at home? Calgary’s been chasing games on this swing and it keeps forcing them into higher-variance scripts, the exact style they usually want to avoid on the road.
For Chicago, this sets up as a good timing spot if Connor Bedard is back in the lineup. He’s been a difference-maker against Calgary, and the Blackhawks need points now, not later. The only concern is how much the recent illness wave and a few lineup absences impact their legs early, because Chicago’s been talking about starting on time for a reason.
Calgary Flames vs Chicago Blackhawks Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should monitor the updated NHL odds in case late goalie news or availability shifts the price.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Flames | -106 | +1.5 (-205) | 5.5 (Over -105 / Under -115) |
| Chicago Blackhawks | -113 | -1.5 (+170) | 5.5 (Over -105 / Under -115) |
Calgary Flames Betting Form
This trip has been a grind for Calgary, and the profile looks like a team that keeps needing a spark to get going. They’ve had stretches of decent play, but the overall results point to a group that’s a half-step late early in games and then forced into catch-up hockey. That’s bad business for road favorites or short dogs because one soft period turns your bet into a volatility ride.
The power play finally showed life last game, and that matters here because it’s the cleanest path for Calgary to manufacture offense without having to win a 5v5 track meet. The problem is the defensive side of the equation. If Calgary is still leaking high-danger looks and giving opponents clean transition, they’re going to keep living on the edge.
You can track the larger picture with Calgary Flames stats and results, and you’ll want to confirm availability using the linked Calgary Flames injury report before you lock in a side.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Form
Chicago’s ceiling in this matchup rises a lot if Bedard plays, and the market usually prices that correctly. The Blackhawks have been noticeably less dangerous without him because the offense becomes more dependent on secondary creation and broken plays. With him, they can generate real chances off controlled entries, seam passes, and quick strikes that punish even brief defensive lapses.
The other key variable is who’s actually healthy enough to go. Illness can be sneaky from a betting perspective because it doesn’t always show up in the pregame story, but it shows up in the first 10 minutes when a team looks flat, loses races, and takes tired penalties. Chicago’s been emphasizing 60-minute effort, and that’s often coach-speak for “we can’t keep spotting teams early goals.”
For a deeper snapshot, check Chicago Blackhawks schedule and stats, and make sure you review the linked Chicago Blackhawks injury report to see who’s in and who’s out.
Calgary Flames vs Chicago Blackhawks Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, this game is about whether Calgary can keep Chicago from getting clean looks through the middle. The Blackhawks have already shown they can get to scoring areas against the Flames this season, and if Bedard is active, the danger is the quick-strike sequence: one turnover, one clean entry, one finish. Calgary can’t afford sloppy puck management at either blue line.
Special teams is the swing. Calgary’s power play producing again is meaningful, but it also increases the urgency for Chicago to stay out of the box if they’re missing key depth pieces. If this becomes a parade to the penalty box, the puck line becomes less attractive and the total becomes more live because the game state changes fast.
Goaltending is the biggest unknown here. If either team is starting a backup or riding a goalie on short rest, the total can move and the “team total” angles start to open. If the starters aren’t confirmed close to puck drop, I treat this as a spot where live betting can be smarter than forcing a pregame total.
This is an indoor game at United Center, so there’s no weather factor. The edge is travel and fatigue. Calgary is finishing a road trip while Chicago is at home, and that tends to show up in second periods and late-game puck battles. If Calgary’s legs aren’t there, Chicago’s speed becomes more of a problem the longer it goes.
Calgary Flames vs Chicago Blackhawks Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Chicago on the moneyline at essentially a pick’em price, assuming Bedard returns. The matchup history matters, but the bigger angle is current situation: Calgary has been too inconsistent early in games on this trip, and Chicago has a clear urgency spot with the standings tightening.
I’m not in love with the puck line either way. Chicago -1.5 is always tempting at plus money, but Calgary can hang around on the scoreboard even when they don’t play well, and the late empty-net path cuts both ways. On the other side, Calgary +1.5 is expensive and you’re paying a premium for a team that has not been closing road games cleanly.
On the total, I lean slightly to the over if Bedard is confirmed and the Blackhawks aren’t missing too much speed. Calgary’s defensive results on this trip have invited goals, and if Calgary’s power play is truly back online, that also supports scoring. If Bedard is ruled out late, I’d downgrade that over lean quickly because Chicago’s chance creation changes.
Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks moneyline (-113)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re shopping the board and building a slate, the NHL picks page is the fastest way to compare where the market is landing versus how top bettors are playing it. For a game like this, that matters because the biggest edges often come from timing and reacting to confirmed lineups.
If you want to follow the most consistent performance profiles, use the best handicappers hub and keep tabs on the leaderboard so you’re tracking who’s actually beating the market. If you prefer packaged selections, buy picks is the clean way to access them, and the NHL previews hub keeps matchup context in one place.
For bettors tightening up process, the NHL betting guide helps frame sides and totals beyond recent scores, and the Stanley Cup betting guide is useful when playoff-position pressure starts impacting nightly pricing.
