Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks vs. Blues

  

Chicago Blackhawks (6-2-2) at St. Louis Blues (2-4-3)

7:00pm Central

Enterprise Center

TV/Radio: FS-MW,WGN/WGN

 

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Chicago:

Corey Crawford (.946 SV%, 1.52 GAA)

St. Louis:

Jake Allen (.876 SV%, 3.93 GAA)

 

Team statistics:

Power Play

Chicago (11.4%, T-27)

St. Louis (28.2%, 9)

Penalty Kill

Chicago (76.7%, 18)

St. Louis (78.1%, 15)

Shots for/against per game

Chicago (35.5, 3rd – 34.1, 24th)

St. Louis (32.7, 10th – 31.6, 17th)

Shooting%

Chicago (10.4%, T-11)

St. Louis (9.9%, T-15)

Faceoff%

Chicago (49.1%, 20th)

St. Louis (55.4%, 2nd)

Avg. height/weight

Chicago

6’1” 195lbs

St. Louis 6’2” 204lbs

 

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Chicago

DeBrincat-Toews-Kahun

Saad-Anisimov-Kane

Fortin-Johnson-Schmaltz

Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Jokiharju

Gustafsson-Seabrook

Manning-Rutta

St. Louis

Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko

Sanford-O’Reilly-Perron

Maroon-Bozak-Steen

Barbashev-Sundqvist-Kyrou

Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo

Edmundson-Parayko

Dunn-Schmaltz

 

Analysis:

After consecutive victories, the Chicago Blackhawks look to keep the streak alive tonight in St. Louis. This is the third Saturday matchup between the Central Division rivals this season. Chicago won both previous games in overtime.

The Hawks’ commitment to defense was apparent the past two victories. Coming off of 25 and 19 shots against performances, the Blackhawks should face  more offense from the Blues than either the Ducks or Rangers. Defensive responsibilities will be key again tonight.

Collecting seven out of a possible eight points on the road, Chicago looks to stay hot on opponent’s ice. A surprising start, which many “experts” would not have predicted, has kept the team afloat in the ultra-competitive division.

Comment below in our live game thread tonight!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game later tonight or early tomorrow on the-rink.com. 

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