Avalanche vs Blackhawks Prediction and Picks - Back the Over

At 8 p.m. ET, the Colorado Avalanche visit the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center, and this Avalanche vs Blackhawks prediction is about goals rather than who wins.

Colorado are scoring 4.21 a game and Chicago are allowing 3.79, and 57% of the two teams' games have gone over 6.5. At 2.01, that's a price I want, even if Chicago's own scoring has been thin.

Cale Makar has been putting more pucks on net lately. He's had three or more shots on goal in four of his last five games, including six against New Jersey, and 2.85 is far too big for a defenceman who runs Colorado's attack.

Artturi Lehkonen has been one of the league's best finishers. He has 12 goals in 14 games and has scored in four of his last five, including two against Calgary on Saturday, so 2.95 is a strong price.

Chicago are averaging 23 shots a game and allowing 30.4.

Opponents have scored three or more against Chicago in 12 of 14 games.

Lehkonen has scored his 12 goals on only 28 shots.

Makar has 12 assists and 37 shots on goal in 13 games.

Colorado swept the 2025-26 season series 3-0, and the Blackhawks scored only two goals in those three games. Tonight is the first of four meetings this season.

The last meeting was March 20, 2026, at United Center, where Colorado won 4-1. Martin Necas and Brock Nelson scored in the first period, and Nazem Kadri's power-play goal 36 seconds into the third ended Chicago's comeback hopes, with the Avalanche outshooting them 49-20.

Colorado have scored 21 goals in their last five games.

Wednesday's 5-2 win over New Jersey turned in the third, when the Avalanche scored four times after Gabriel Landeskog's power-play goal had tied it. On Saturday, they beat Calgary 5-2, with Lehkonen scoring twice and Makar picking up four assists.

Josh Manson is out with a lower-body injury, according to ESPN's preview, which leaves Colorado a defenceman short. Logan O'Connor and Zachary L'Heureux are also out. Mackenzie Blackwood started on Saturday, and Colorado haven't confirmed whether he or Scott Wedgewood starts.

Chicago are 4-9-1 and have won only one of their last five.

Thursday's 4-1 loss in Detroit started well with Connor Bedard's opener, before Viktor Arvidsson's hat trick took over. On Saturday, the Blackhawks led Boston 4-2 in the third, but Morgan Geekie tied it with 12 seconds left and Elias Lindholm won it in overtime.

Bowen Byram is day to day with an upper-body injury, per ESPN, so Chicago's blue line could be stretched again. Ryan Ellis is out for the season. Arvid Soderblom played on Saturday, which makes Spencer Knight the likely starter, though that hasn't been confirmed.