Two of the NHL’s fiercest rivals will square off in the league’s annual marquee event when the Chicago Blackhawks host the St. Louis Blues in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on New Year’s Eve.
This Winter Classic will be the second contested at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs, which also served as the venue in 2009 when the Blackhawks fell to the Detroit Red Wings 6-4. Chicago is 1-5-0 in its previous regular-season outdoor appearances, while St. Louis owns a perfect 2-0-0 record in such contests, including its 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks in the 2017 Winter Classic at Busch Stadium.
Which team will emerge victorious this time around? Let’s examine the latest Winter Classic odds before diving into my Blues vs Blackhawks prediction and best bets.
Winter Classic Odds
NHL odds for the Winter Classic are current as of Monday, Dec. 30, at 1:15 p.m. ET and are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Blues (-142) vs Blackhawks (+130)
- Spread: Blues -1.5 (+180) vs Blackhawks +1.5 (-218)
- Total: Over 5.5 (-115) / Under 5.5 (-105)
Winter Classic Prediction for Blues vs Blackhawks
Blues 4, Blackhawks 2
This contest will be the first between these Central Division rivals this season, so we don’t have any recent data to work with. However, it should be noted that St. Louis won three of the four meetings last season by multiple goals, and each of those Blues’ victories featured at least six total goals.
Putting the puck in the net has been a struggle for Chicago (2.51) and St. Louis (2.61) this campaign, as both teams rank inside the bottom five league-wide in goals per game. However, these outdoor games tend to cater to offense, as the goaltenders have to contend with new sight lines. The elements, which are likely to play a role on Tuesday with rain, snow, and wind in the forecast, as well as sub-standard ice quality can also impact the game by creating some fluky bounces.
The Blues come into this game on the heels of back-to-back multi-goal victories over the Red Wings and Predators, two teams near Chicago in the basement of the NHL standings. The Blackhawks possess the fewest points in the league and have dropped four straight games. Anything can happen once the puck is dropped, but all signs point to a St. Louis victory.
Winter Classic Best Bets
Blues Win in Regulation (+115)
The Blues have won eight of the previous 10 meetings between these teams, all of which have been decided in regulation. There have been only four overtime games in the 15 previous Winter Classics, and just eight of the league’s 41 outdoor games have gone beyond 60 minutes.
Back the visitors to win in regulation as one of your best NHL bets today.
Over 5.5 Goals (-115)
While neither team has brilliant offensive metrics, we’ll see enough offense to hit the Over. The elements should play a factor here, as heavy winds could tilt the ice and make it difficult for the team playing into the wind to get out of its own zone.
Also, both expected starting goaltenders have struggled lately. St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington has surrendered three or more goals in three of his last four starts, while Chicago’s Petr Mrazek recently returned from a groin injury and was pulled after allowing four goals on 11 shots in the first period of his most recent outing.
The Blackhawks should be able to contribute to this total, especially since they have a distinct special teams advantage, so I like the Over at 5.5 goals.
How to Bet the Winter Classic
Betting the Winter Classic should be as simple as betting on any NHL game. Here’s a look at the steps.
- Log into your preferred sportsbook app or website. If you’re new to sports betting, check out some of the best betting sites to determine which one to use.
- Sign up using any available promo code to unlock the new-player sportsbook bonus.
- Click “NHL" or “Ice Hockey" in the sports section.
- Find the Winter Classic on its schedule.
- Find the market you wish to bet and add it to your bet slip.
- Add the amount you wish to wager.
- Press “Place Bet" and then root for your bet to hit!
Winter Classic History
This year’s Winter Classic will be the 42nd outdoor game in NHL history and the 16th Winter Classic. Here’s a look at the results of the previous 15:
- Jan. 1, 2024: Seattle Kraken 3, Vegas Golden Knights 0 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle
- Jan. 2, 2023: Boston Bruins 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Fenway Park in Boston
- Jan. 1, 2022: St. Louis Blues 6, Minnesota Wild 4 at Target Field in St. Paul, Minnesota
- 2021 Winter Classic canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Jan. 1, 2020: Dallas Stars 4, Nashville Predators 2 at Cotton Bowl in Dallas
- Jan. 1, 2019: Boston Bruins 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2 at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana
- Jan. 1, 2018: New York Rangers 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 (OT) at Citi Field in Flushing, New York
- Jan. 2, 2017: St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis
- Jan. 1, 2016: Montreal Canadiens 5, Boston Bruins 1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Jan. 1, 2015: Washington Capitals 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
- Jan. 1, 2014: Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (SO) at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- 2013 Winter Classic canceled due to NHL lockout
- Jan. 2, 2012: New York Rangers 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
- Jan. 1, 2011: Washington Capitals 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh
- Jan. 1, 2010: Boston Bruins 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1 (OT) at Fenway Park in Boston
- Jan. 1, 2009: Detroit Red Wings 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4 at Wrigley Field in Chicago
- Jan. 1, 2008: Pittsburgh Penguins 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (SO) at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo
