Winnipeg Jets vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 15 2026
The Winnipeg Jets head to Chicago on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to face the Blackhawks at the United Center. Puck drop is at 8:00 PM ET. Winnipeg just beat Minnesota 5-2, while Chicago picked up a 5-3 win against Pittsburgh. The Jets are favored at -124, with the Blackhawks getting +103 and the total set at six goals. I’m taking Winnipeg. Chicago finally put together a good offensive game, but I’m not ready to trust that defense. The Blackhawks have been giving up more than four goals a night. Winnipeg has its own problems, especially in net, but I think the Jets have enough to get this one. I’d also look at the over. Six goals isn’t a huge number with the way Chicago has been defending. Make sure you check out all of our free NHL picks.
Winnipeg Jets Are Finding Ways To Win Without Their Top Goalie
Winnipeg is 4-1-1 and coming off a good 5-2 win against Minnesota. The Jets had lost 5-1 to Anaheim earlier in the week, so that was a nice response. Winnipeg has also beaten Detroit and Pittsburgh on the road, both by 3-2 scores. That’s the kind of hockey you like to see. The Jets haven’t needed to score five every night. They’ve been finding ways to win close games, even with some important players unavailable. The Minnesota win was a little different. Winnipeg got its offense moving and made the Wild pay for mistakes. Now the Jets head to Chicago against a team that’s been having trouble keeping the puck out of its net. I’d like Winnipeg’s chances in that spot.
The Jets are averaging around three goals per game and allowing a little under three. Nothing spectacular, but good enough when you’re winning four of your first six games. The power play has been one of the bright spots, converting more than 30% of its opportunities. That’s a number Chicago ought to worry about. The Blackhawks are allowing more than four goals per game, and their penalty kill hasn’t been particularly impressive. Winnipeg doesn’t need to dominate the shots to get something done here. The Jets have been making their power-play chances count. The defense has been decent most nights, although the Anaheim game showed what happens when Winnipeg gets out of position. Chicago has enough young talent to score if the Jets start giving away the puck.
The big story for Winnipeg has been the goaltending. Connor Hellebuyck is serving a suspension and won’t be available Thursday. That’s a huge absence. The Jets have still managed to win games without him, which says something about the rest of the team. Eric Comrie has been handling extra work, but I’d still want the confirmed starter before betting much on Winnipeg. The Jets are also missing Josh Morrissey, who’s been dealing with an upper-body injury, while Elias Salomonsson and Garrett Brown are unavailable. That’s important defensive help missing. Winnipeg has managed to keep winning, but Chicago is coming off a five-goal game. I’d be careful about assuming this will be an easy night for the Jets.
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Chicago Blackhawks Finally Gave Their Fans Something To Cheer About
Chicago is 2-5 and just beat Pittsburgh 5-3 on Tuesday. Finally. The Blackhawks had lost five of their first six, and it wasn’t pretty. Carolina beat them 5-2 over the weekend, and the Islanders won 4-1 before that. Chicago’s only earlier win came against St. Louis, 4-2. Then the Penguins came to town, and the Blackhawks actually looked like a team that could score. They got five goals, took a late lead and finished the job with an empty-netter. The home crowd needed that. I wouldn’t blame Chicago fans for enjoying it. The trouble is doing it again. One good game doesn’t erase a rough start.
The Blackhawks are averaging around 2.4 goals per game and allowing 4.14. That’s a pretty ugly combination. Chicago has given up 29 goals in seven games. You can’t keep doing that and expect to win many. The power play is converting only 12.5% of its opportunities, while Winnipeg is above 30%. That’s a big difference. The Blackhawks have also been giving opponents far too many good scoring chances. Their goalie has had to make a lot of saves just to keep games close. Against Carolina, Chicago allowed 39 shots and still lost by three. The Penguins game was better offensively, but Pittsburgh still put three on the board. Winnipeg has been scoring more consistently than Chicago, and that makes me nervous about taking the home underdog.
Chicago did get some encouraging offensive production Tuesday. Two forwards scored twice, and the team captain returned from shoulder surgery to pick up an assist. That gave the Blackhawks a lift. They needed it. Their starting goalie made 24 saves against Pittsburgh and has been keeping Chicago competitive on nights when the defense isn’t doing much to help him. But the injuries and roster issues haven’t disappeared. Andrew Mangiapane is out with a lower-body injury, while Frank Nazar has been serving a suspension. The Blackhawks still need more depth scoring, and the defense has to quit giving away so many chances. Winnipeg’s missing some important players, so Chicago has an opportunity. I just don’t trust the Blackhawks to put together two good defensive games in a row.
Winnipeg Jets vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions
Moneyline Pick: Winnipeg Jets -124
I’m taking Winnipeg at -124. The Jets just put five goals on Minnesota, and Chicago is allowing more than four a night. That’s a pretty easy number to notice. Winnipeg’s power play has also been much better, converting over 30% of its chances. Chicago is sitting at 12.5%. I know the Jets are missing their top goalie, and that’s a real concern. The Blackhawks also got a boost from their captain’s return and finally scored five against Pittsburgh. Maybe they’re starting to figure things out. But I need more than one good game before I’m trusting Chicago. Winnipeg has been winning without everybody healthy, and the Blackhawks have been giving up too many chances. I’ll lay the -124 with the Jets.
Total Pick: Over 6 Goals
Give me Over 6 goals. Chicago has allowed 29 goals in seven games. That’s more than four per night. Winnipeg just scored five against Minnesota. What am I supposed to do with those numbers? The Jets should get plenty of chances, especially if Chicago starts taking penalties. Winnipeg’s power play has been terrific early. The Blackhawks also showed some offense against Pittsburgh, scoring five. With Winnipeg missing Hellebuyck, I wouldn’t be surprised if Chicago gets three of its own. The danger is the Jets settling into one of those tight 3-2 road games. They’ve done that a couple of times already. And if Chicago’s goalie gets hot, six goals might be all we see. That would be a push, not a win. But I think both teams score. Something like 5-3 Winnipeg sounds reasonable. I’ll take Over 6.
Final Picks: Winnipeg Jets Moneyline -124 and Over 6 Goals.
Disclaimer: This preview was prepared October 14, 2026. Betting odds, injuries and starting goalies may change before puck drop.
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