Blackhawks vs. Panthers NHL season opener predictions, odds, best bets by model

The Chicago Blackhawks and two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers drop the puck on the 2025-26 NHL season once they meet on Tuesday. Florida was a fifth seed within the East final season, whereas Chicago completed fifteenth within the West. The Blackhawks (25-46-11), who positioned eighth within the Central, have been 10-26-5 on the highway final yr. The Panthers (47-31-4), who have been third within the Atlantic, have been 27-12-2 on their dwelling ice. Chicago defenseman Alex Vlasic (decrease physique) is not anticipated to play.

Opening faceoff is about for five p.m. ET from Amerant Financial institution Area in Dawn, Fla. The Panthers are the -289 favourite (danger $289 to win $100) within the newest Blackhawks vs. Panthers odds from SportsLine consensus, whereas the over/below for complete targets scored is 5.5. Earlier than making any Panthers vs. Blackhawks picks, check out the NHL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Mannequin simulates each NHL sport 10,000 instances and was worthwhile on top-rated NHL betting picks final yr, together with an especially sturdy 32-16 document (+1229) on puck-line picks. Anybody following its picks at sportsbooks and on betting websites might have seen sturdy returns. 

Now, the mannequin has set its sights on Blackhawks vs. Panthers and simply locked in its picks and NHL predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Listed here are a number of NHL odds and betting traces for Blackhawks vs. Panthers:

Why the Panthers can win

Heart Sam Reinhart powers the offense. In 79 video games final season, he led the Panthers in scoring with 81 factors on 39 targets and 42 assists. He was dominant on the facility play, soring 13 power-play targets and including 17 power-play assists. He was amongst Florida’s shot leaders with 213 pictures and an 18.3 shot share.

With middle Aleksander Barkov (knee) out for no less than seven months, middle Carter Verhaeghe will look to choose up the slack on offense. In 81 video games in 2024-25, he tallied 53 factors on 20 targets and 33 assists. He was additionally a weapon on the facility play, racking up 5 power-play targets, whereas including 11 power-play assists. In final yr’s decisive Recreation 6 Stanley Cup Last win over Edmonton, he registered three assists in a 5-1 victory. See which team to back at SportsLine.

Why the Blackhawks can win

Heart Connor Bedard powers Chicago because the dependable 20-year-old performed in 82 video games a yr in the past, main the Blackhawks in scoring with 67 factors, together with 23 targets and 44 assists. He led Chicago’s energy play, scoring 11 targets and including 18 assists. He additionally led the group with 195 pictures.

One other risk on offense is veteran middle Ryan Donato. He performed in 80 video games final season, registering 62 factors with 31 targets and 31 assists. Amongst these stats have been 5 power-play targets and 9 power-play assists. He took 182 pictures, second-most on the group, with a 17% shot share. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

Learn how to make Blackhawks vs. Panthers picks

SportsLine’s mannequin is leaning Over on the full, projecting 5.6 targets, and it says one aspect of the cash line has all the worth. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NHL picks. 

So who wins Blackhawks vs. Panthers, and which aspect of the cash line has all the worth? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NHL picks, and discover out.