Vegas Golden Knights vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/21/2023

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL

Where to watch: NBCSCH, ATTSN-RM, SN1

DraftKings: Golden Knights -280, Blackhawks +235

FanDuel: Golden Knights -310, Blackhawks +245

BetMGM: Golden Knights -300, Blackhawks +230

Caesars: Golden Knights -294, Blackhawks +235

Golden Knights: 34-18-4

Blackhawks: 18-32-5

The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!

The Vegas Golden Knights are suddenly red-hot. Not sure how that was expected coming out of the All-Star break, but here we are with five straight wins and order seemingly restored for the moment. Vegas will try to make it six in a row when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights, who were 1-5-2 going into the break, have benefitted the most from the All-Star break with five straight wins, four of them without Logan Thompson and all five of them now without Mark Stone. Both are going to be out for a bit, to say the least, but everyone else seems to be picking up the slack. Adin Hill has won all four starts he’s been in, but he’s not expected to start this one due to a minor injury. Laurent Brossoit will make his first start of the season.

Vegas is coming off a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, without question their most impressive win of this streak and most impressive win in about two months. Shea Theodore had a goal and two assists, and Jonathan Marchessault scored twice to help pave the way for the Golden Knights to knock off the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions.

"He can just manufacture stuff out of nothing," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said of Theodore, who has six points in his last three games. "Those are special players. Every team needs them. Especially someone on the back end, it makes you dangerous. We're a little more dangerous in the offensive zone (with him). He's got to be accounted for. I know he'll be on the prescout on their team a lot."

Vegas is playing well at the right time, and with the injury to Stone, you know there’s always a chance they’ll add at the trade deadline in less than two weeks. Ironically they’re in Chicago so of course that would pave the way for Patrick Kane. More on him in a moment, but Vegas is atop the West in points percentage and this conference has never looked so wide open than it does right now.

The Blackhawks are coming into this game winners of two straight and no one playing any hotter than the aforementioned Kane, who now becomes the second or arguably biggest trade chip in the NHL not named Timo Meier. Kane had a hat trick Sunday against Toronto, and the Blackhawks won 5-3 against the revamped Maple Leafs. Max Domi had a goal and three assists, as well.

"Just got some chances tonight, obviously," said Kane, who has five goals in his past two games. "Going back to the last couple games, playing with Max Domi and [Philipp Kurashev], been getting some looks, and [it's] nice to capitalize on them. Always nice to have a game like that at home."

The Blackhawks are still facing the lottery sooner rather than later, but the rebuild for this year is likely on the tear-down. Jonathan Toews is likely not playing again this year due to injury, and the team overall is just not that good. Chicago could very well win the Connor Bedard sweepstakes and get themselves some sort of win in the future rankings, but that’s not looking good.

It would just be hilarious if Kane got traded before the game and all he had to do was switch locker rooms. Don’t see that happening, but I see Vegas continuing this good play they’ve been on and handle the lowly Blackhawks. Golden Knights 5, Blackhawks 2

Golden Knights are 17-10 off a one-goal win the last 3 seasons.

Golden Knights are 89-60 off a home win all-time.

Blackhawks are 7-15 after a non-conference game this season.

Golden Knights:

Paul Cotter -- Jack Eichel -- Jonathan Marchessault

Reilly Smith -- William Karlsson -- Michael Amadio

William Carrier -- Chandler Stephenson -- Phil Kessel

Brett Howden -- Nicolas Roy -- Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud

Laurent Brossoit

Blackhawks:

Philipp Kurashev -- Max Domi -- Patrick Kane

Tyler Johnson -- Cole Guttman -- Taylor Raddysh

Jason Dickinson -- Sam Lafferty -- Andreas Athanasiou

Boris Katchouk -- Reese Johnson -- Colin Blackwell

Jake McCabe -- Seth Jones

Jack Johnson -- Connor Murphy

Ian Mitchell -- Caleb Jones

Jaxson Stauber