Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Tuesday night is the NHL's North American opening night - a couple of regular season games have already been played in Europe - and it features a small but intriguing slate capped off by the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Utah Hockey Club.

There will be plenty of excitement and perhaps a bit of pageantry as it is the inaugural season of the Utah Hockey Club with this being the first home game in Utah following the team's relocation from Arizona.

Fans inside the Delta Center will make it a great atmosphere while the rest of the world gets a glimpse on their television of what hockey will be like in Salt Lake City. The question is whether the team will deliver on its debut.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club betting picks and predictions

Utah Hockey Club -1.5 (+150)

This season looks to be a step forward for the Blackhawks. But unfortunately for them, they are still in a rebuild. Chicago has an uphill battle in this game in a couple of ways.

Utah just plain looks to be the better team, and of course, Chicago will have to weather the storm of rampant energy and adrenaline from the home crowd and players.

In addition to the pure excitement of having a new home, this season also looks to be a step forward for the Utah Hockey Club as well. This is a young team that can mature as a group.

There is a little bit of buzz around them as a potential wild card contender. Utah's players will ride the wave of energy from the fans while also being out to show they're a team to be feared this year. 

In what is the Utah Hockey Club's first home game in franchise history, there will be a palpable energy in the building. Utah's players will feed off of it and be buzzing. Adding to the fact that they appear the better team anyway, with some extra jump, they should take care of Chicago.

Logan Cooley over 0.5 points (+128)

Last year was Logan Cooley's rookie season in the NHL and it was a good one. Cooley was the third overall pick in 2022, but easily could have gone first.

He has lit up every level he has played for his age leading up to the NHL. Then once he got to the NHL last season, Cooley put up a respectable 20 goals and 44 points in all 82 games played at 19 years old and this year may be his breakout campaign.

It is not easy to play all 82 games in an NHL regular season, let alone as a teenage rookie. It is also not easy to put up 20 goals, be named to the All-Rookie first team, and finish top 5 in Calder Trophy voting. It only helps that he centers the second line and power play meaning there will be plenty of ice time and opportunity for Cooley to produce alongside talented teammates.

Now 20, he is already a player his teammates look to to make an impact. What could be a big season for the second-year pro starts in his new home on Tuesday night. 

Connor Bedard anytime goalscorer (+170)

The Blackhawks should be able to drum up some offense on this Utah team that struggled to keep the puck out of the net last season. As the Coyotes last year, this Utah team allowed the eighth-most goals per game in the NHL, the 13th most goals at 5-on-5 strength, and had a mid-tier penalty kill.

Unless they significantly improved their goal prevention in the offseason, the opportunity will be there for Chicago to put a couple through.

That being the case, look no further than Connor Bedard for an anytime scorer prop.

There is a reason Bedard has been touted as a generational talent. He dazzled last season with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games played as an 18-year-old rookie on a bad team without much help. Now with a season under his belt, he is only more familiar with the NHL-style game and can produce even better numbers.

Bedard is extremely talented, has a wicked shot, has decent linemates, and a better overall team surrounding him this year. Look for Bedard to be involved early and often. 

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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club odds

Chicago Blackhawks	+145 ML
Utah Hockey Club	-170 ML
Puck Line	Utah -1.5
Total Goals	O/U 6.0

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Utah Hockey Club player props

Anytime Goalscorer Odds

Clayton Keller (UTA)	+130
Connor Bedard (CHI)	+170
Dylan Guenther (UTA)	+190
Logan Cooley (UTA)	+325
Taylor Hall (CHI)	+350

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.