Colorado’s Slump Meets A Chicago Team Playing Tighter Games
— Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction on March 20, 2026
The Colorado Avalanche head into Chicago in an interesting spot. On paper, this is one of the wider gaps on Friday’s board. In practice, it is a little less comfortable than that, because Colorado has dropped 3 straight while the Chicago Blackhawks just picked up another road win and have earned points in 5 of their last 6.
This NHL pick still leans toward the Avalanche because the season-long edge in talent, scoring, and goaltending is too large to ignore, though the recent form suggests this may be tighter for a while than the price says.
Our Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks Pick
📌 Pick: Colorado Avalanche Moneyline
📈 Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks
- Date & Time: March 20, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Broadcast: ESPN+
| Moneyline | Puckline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Avalanche -258 | Blackhawks +210 | Avalanche -1.5 -115 | Blackhawks +1.5 -105 | Over 6.5 Even | Under 6.5 -125 |
Key Storylines
Colorado is coming off a frustrating stretch, and the recent results are easy to follow. The Avalanche lost 2-1 in a shootout to Dallas on Wednesday, fell 7-2 against Pittsburgh on Monday, and dropped a 3-1 road game in Winnipeg before that. The bigger picture still favors Colorado, though the recent issue has been clean execution in front of the net at both ends. The offense has not disappeared, but the finishing has been less sharp and the defensive coverage has slipped at key moments.
Chicago comes in with more life than usual for a team in this tier. The Blackhawks beat Minnesota 2-1 on Thursday after losing 4-3 in overtime to the Wild on Tuesday. That means they have picked up points in 5 of their last 6, and the games have looked more competitive as well. This is not suddenly a dominant club, but it is a more annoying opponent than the season record alone would suggest, especially with Connor Bedard driving the offense and Spencer Knight giving them steadier work in net.
Injury Update
Colorado is still missing some important pieces. Ross Colton is day to day, while Logan O’Connor remains on long-term injured reserve. Gabriel Landeskog is out, and Artturi Lehkonen is also unavailable. That trims Colorado’s forward depth and removes some of the defensive reliability lower in the lineup.
Chicago also has a few names on the injury list, though most do not impact the current core. Sacha Boisvert and Oliver Moore are out, while Ryan Ellis and Shea Weber remain on long-term injured reserve. Those absences are more about depth and long-term status rather than key rotation pieces.
Recent Form
The Avalanche are 0-2-1 over their last 3 games, and that is the main reason this line does not feel as simple as it first looks. The shootout loss to Dallas was a playoff-style game with very little room, and before that the Avalanche were badly exposed in the loss to Pittsburgh. That said, Colorado also beat Seattle 5-1 and Edmonton 4-3 earlier in this recent stretch, so the ceiling is still obvious.
Chicago has not suddenly turned into a playoff team, but the Blackhawks are playing more competitive hockey. They pushed Minnesota to overtime on Tuesday, then came back and won the rematch 2-1 on Thursday. Bedard’s game-winning goal in that win was his 28th of the season, and the Blackhawks got another strong effort from Knight. For a team like Chicago, that matters because close games are usually where the gap in execution shows up first.
Goaltending
Colorado still holds the better crease profile. Scott Wedgewood has put together a very strong season with a 26-5-6 record, a 2.19 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage. He was solid again in the shootout loss to Dallas. The Avalanche also have Mackenzie Blackwood, which gives them more depth and stability in goal than most teams can claim.
Chicago has gotten useful work from Knight, and his numbers are respectable on a weaker team. He enters with a 17-19-9 record, a 2.67 goals-against average, and a .907 save percentage. He stopped 28 of 29 shots against Minnesota on Thursday and has been one of the clearest reasons the Blackhawks have become more competitive lately.
Key Skaters
- Nathan MacKinnon remains the centerpiece for Colorado. He leads the Avalanche with 111 points on 45 goals and 66 assists, and his pace still changes games even when the team is not at its best.
- Cale Makar has reached 20 goals again and continues to drive the power play and the transition game from the blue line.
- Martin Necas has stayed productive during this stretch and gives Colorado another high-end scoring threat when the top line draws extra attention.
- Connor Bedard leads Chicago with 65 points on 28 goals and 37 assists. He is the clear game-breaker on this roster and the biggest reason the Blackhawks have any upset path here.
- Ilya Mikheyev continues to give Chicago support on the scoring side and opened the offense in Thursday’s win over Minnesota.
- Frank Nazar has added energy and timely offense, including a late goal against Minnesota earlier this week that forced overtime.
Betting Trends & H2H
Colorado won the first meeting this month, beating Chicago 3-1 on March 1. That game followed a familiar pattern. The Blackhawks competed, but the Avalanche generated more pressure over time and had more answers late. The season-long team numbers still point in the same direction. Colorado averages 3.69 goals per game and allows 2.48, while Chicago scores 2.61 and allows 3.16.
Road and home splits matter too. Colorado is 21-7-5 away from home, while Chicago is 13-15-6 at home. The over-under history is a little trickier here because Colorado’s offense can push a number higher by itself, but Chicago has often needed strong goaltending to stay inside games. From a side perspective, the moneyline feels safer than laying the puckline because Colorado’s recent form has not supported a fully comfortable blowout projection.
Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks Model Projection
🏒 Score Projection: Colorado Avalanche 4 – Chicago Blackhawks 2
📊 Win Probability: Colorado Avalanche 67%, Chicago Blackhawks 33%
Final Thoughts
Chicago deserves more respect than the standings suggest, and the recent run proves that. The Blackhawks are getting saves, Bedard is creating enough offense to keep games live, and they are competing much harder than they were earlier in the year. Even so, this still looks like a spot where Colorado’s top-end skill should show up over 60 minutes. The Avalanche have the stronger roster, the better road profile, the better goaltending depth, and a recent head-to-head win already in hand. The slump is real, though the matchup still favors Colorado more often than not.
Best Bet: Avalanche ML ✔️