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Blackhawks vs. Penguins prediction: Why Pittsburgh is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [1/29/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Chicago Blackhawks vs Pittsburgh Penguins predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will square off with the Chicago Blackhawks in NHL action at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, starting at 7:00 PM ET.
The championship matchup pairs two 14–3 teams coming off sharply contrasting conference title games, with New England advancing through a low-scoring, snow-filled AFC Championship win over Denver and Seattle earning its place after a 31–27 NFC Championship thriller against the Rams.
The clash also spotlights two offensive focal points, with Drake Maye guiding New England through a composed, run-focused AFC title performance and Jaxon Smith-Njigba entering as Seattle’s primary playmaker following a 153-yard, one-touchdown outing in the NFC Championship.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model projects the Penguins as the most likely winner of the Blackhawks vs. Penguins game.
This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Hawks vs. Penguins prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL game between the Blackhawks and Penguins 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Penguins a 62% chance of beating the Blackhawks.
According to our model, the Blackhawks (+1.5) have a 60% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has a 54% chance of going over.
Blackhawks vs. Penguins odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Blackhawks | Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-160) | -1.5 (+140) |
| Moneyline | +154 | -178 |
| Total | o6 (-130) | u6 (+100) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Blackhawks vs. Penguins picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Blackhawks +1.5 | -160 |
| Moneyline | Blackhawks | +154 |
| Total | Over 6 | -130 |
According to our best NHL bets, the top play to make on this game is Blackhawks to win.
Blackhawks vs. Penguins player props
Who will score a goal in Blackhawks vs. Penguins?
According to our model, Sidney Crosby is most likely to score an anytime goal in Blackhawks vs. Penguins.
Our projections give Crosby a 36.1% chance of scoring a goal at PPG Paints Arena, while the star is a 7.1% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | 28.8% |
| Ilya Mikheyev | 27.4% |
| Tyler Bertuzzi | 26.9% |
| Frank Nazar | 24.5% |
| Ryan Donato | 19.0% |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | 36.1% |
| Rickard Rakell | 32.6% |
| Evgeni Malkin | 31.3% |
| Thomas Novak | 27.4% |
| Yegor Chinakhov | 25.5% |
First goal scorer predictions
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tyler Bertuzzi | 5.5% |
| Connor Bedard | 4.8% |
| Ilya Mikheyev | 4.6% |
| Frank Nazar | 4.3% |
| Ryan Donato | 3.5% |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | 7.1% |
| Rickard Rakell | 6.9% |
| Evgeni Malkin | 6.4% |
| Thomas Novak | 5.2% |
| Anthony Mantha | 4.8% |
Hawks vs. Penguins game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's action between the Penguins and Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Penguins, with a 62% win probability, will likely beat the Blackhawks on Thursday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Blackhawks vs. Penguins insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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