Florida Panthers vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions for Sunday October 25 2026
I don’t know what to make of Florida right now. The Panthers went out and scored 18 goals in three games, then turned around and managed one lousy goal in their next two. Pittsburgh shut them out Thursday, and Ottawa beat them 5-1 before that. Now they’re going into Chicago as a pretty substantial favorite. I understand why. The Blackhawks have been awful defensively, and their offense isn’t doing much better. But there’s a difference between thinking Florida wins and wanting to lay -180 to find out. Get ready for all the NHL action this season with our free NHL picks.
Florida visits Chicago at the United Center on Sunday, October 25, with the puck dropping at 3:00 PM ET. The Panthers were sitting around -182 on the moneyline earlier, with Chicago at +171. That’s too expensive for me. I’d be interested in Florida closer to -160, and I’m looking at the over 5.5 if the price stays reasonable. There are enough questions about both teams’ goaltending to make six goals a possibility, even with the way these offenses have looked lately.
Florida Panthers Have Some Explaining to Do
The Panthers are 5-4-2, including 3-3-2 away from home. They had a nice little three-game run going before everything fell apart. Seven goals against Columbus, three against Vancouver, and eight against Seattle. Then they went to Ottawa and lost 5-1. Pittsburgh followed that up by shutting them out 4-0. That’s a pretty wild swing for a team that was looking dangerous a week ago. I wouldn’t read too much into two bad games, but I wouldn’t ignore them either. Florida had better come out with some energy Sunday because Chicago, for all its problems, has managed to win three of its five home games.
Florida is scoring 2.82 goals per game and giving up 3.09. Neither number jumps off the page, and the 19.2% power play hasn’t exactly been carrying them. What bothers me more is the penalty trouble. The Panthers are averaging 15 penalty minutes a game. That’s a lot of time spent watching somebody else skate around with the puck. Chicago’s power play is terrible, converting just 10.3%, so maybe Florida gets away with it this time. But that’s not something I’d want to count on against a better opponent. The Panthers also need to get back to putting pucks on net instead of waiting around for the perfect chance. They scored eight against Seattle because they kept attacking. They haven’t looked nearly as aggressive since.
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Brady Tkachuk has seven goals over his last five games, and Matthew Tkachuk has ten assists during that stretch. There’s your offense, or at least a good chunk of it. The trouble is Florida has been asking those guys to do an awful lot with Aleksander Barkov out and Brad Marchand sidelined. Jonah Gadjovich is unavailable, too, and Gustav Forsling has been dealing with an injury. The goaltending isn’t giving me much confidence either. Jacob Markstrom is out, leaving Akira Schmid as a possible starter. Schmid is 2-2-1 with a 3.62 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage. Those aren’t numbers I want to see when I’m laying a heavy road price. Florida can overcome that against Chicago, but it still has to score enough to give its goalie some breathing room.
Chicago Blackhawks Aren’t Giving Anybody Much Reason to Trust Them
Chicago is 3-7-0, although the Blackhawks have been a little better at home with a 3-2 record. They beat Pittsburgh 5-3 and Winnipeg 4-3 in overtime, and for a minute it looked like they might be getting somewhere. Then Dallas came in and beat them 4-0. Montreal followed with a 4-1 win Friday. One goal in two games. That’s not going to get it done against anybody, much less a Florida team that should be looking to take out some frustration after getting embarrassed twice. The Blackhawks have had a few decent nights, but they haven’t been able to string enough of them together.
Chicago is scoring 2.20 goals a game and allowing four. Four! That’s a miserable number, and it’s the main reason I’m having trouble talking myself into the Blackhawks even at plus money. The penalty kill is sitting at 76.7%, and the power play isn’t helping them either. They win just 42.3% of their faceoffs, so they spend too much time trying to get the puck back. Florida isn’t playing its best hockey, but the Panthers are still capable of controlling long stretches against a team that struggles to get out of its own zone. Chicago needs to make this ugly, slow things down, and hope Florida keeps missing chances. If the Panthers start moving the puck the way they did against Columbus and Seattle, the Blackhawks could be in trouble before the third period.
Roman Kantserov has three goals over Chicago’s last five games, while Patrick Kane has four assists. That’s something, but it isn’t nearly enough when the team is giving up four goals a night. Bowen Byram has an upper-body injury that could leave Chicago short on the blue line, and that’s the last thing the Blackhawks need against Florida. Spencer Knight is expected to get a look in goal against his former team. He’s 3-5-0 with a 3.52 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage. Knight has had to deal with plenty of defensive mistakes in front of him, so I wouldn’t put everything on the goalie. Still, Chicago needs him to be better. A lot better. The Blackhawks aren’t scoring enough to survive another night where their goalie gives up four or five.
Florida Panthers vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions
Florida Panthers Moneyline — Take -160 or Better
I keep coming back to the price. Florida is the better hockey team. I don’t think there’s much argument about that. The Panthers have more scoring ability, and Chicago has been giving up goals like they’re handing out free samples. But Florida just lost 5-1 and 4-0, and its goaltending situation isn’t exactly settled. That’s why I can’t get behind laying -182. Chicago has won three of five at home, and if Knight has a good afternoon, this could turn into a one-goal game pretty quickly. The Blackhawks also have a chance to catch Florida pressing after two ugly losses. All that said, Chicago’s defense is still allowing four goals a night, and the Panthers have already shown they can put up big numbers when they’re clicking. I think Florida gets back in the win column. Just don’t ask me to pay almost -180 for it. Give me the Panthers at -160 or better. If the price doesn’t come down, I’ll pass.
Over 5.5 Goals — Take -120 or Better
This one makes me a little nervous because neither team has been scoring lately. Florida has one goal in two games, and Chicago has one over the same stretch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the over. But look at the other side of it. Florida has allowed nine goals in those two losses, Chicago is giving up four per game, and neither projected starting goalie has a save percentage above .900. Something has to give. I think Florida gets three or four against this Blackhawks defense, and Chicago should have opportunities against Schmid if he starts. The Panthers have been taking too many penalties, and even Chicago’s struggling power play might finally do something with enough chances. The risk is obvious: Florida wins 3-1 and Chicago never gets anything going. I can live with that possibility at the right price. A 4-2 Panthers win makes plenty of sense to me, and that gets us over the number. I’ll take over 5.5 at -120 or better.
Final Picks: Florida Panthers Moneyline at -160 or better and Over 5.5 Goals at -120 or better
Preview completed October 24, 2026.
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