Chicago Blackhawks vs St Louis Blues Preview & Game Thread

  

Chicago Blackhawks (33-37-10)
vs
St. Louis Blues (43-31-6)

TIME: 7:30PM Central/8:30PM Eastern
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBCSCH

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Chicago:
Jean-Francois Berube (3-5-1 W-L | 3.84 GAA | 0.893 SV% | 0 SO)

St. Louis:
Jake Allen (27-24-3 W-L | 2.74 GAA | 0.906 SV% | 1 SO)

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Chicago:

Brandon Saad – Nick Schmaltz – Patrick Kane
Dylan Sikura – Victor Ejdsell – Alex DeBrincat
Tomas Jurco (Questionable) – Artem Anisimov – Andreas Martinsen
Patrick Sharp – David Kampf – Vinnie Hinostroza

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook
Erik Gustafsson – Connor Murphy
Blake Hillman – Jan Rutta – Jordan Oesterle

St. Louis:

Jaden Schwartz – Brayden Schenn – Vladimir Tarasenko
Patrik Berglund – Kyle Brodziak – Alex Steen
Dmitrij Jaskin – Vladimir Sobotka – Tage Thompson
Ivan Barbashev – Oskar Sundqvist – Chris Thorburn

Joel Edmundson – Alex Pietrangelo
Vince Dunn – Colton Parayko
Chris Butler – Robert Bortuzzo

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:

Power Play:
Chicago 16.1% (28th)
St. Louis 15.2% (30th)

Penalty Kill:
Chicago 79.1% (20th)
St. Louis 79.7% (18th)

Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
Chicago 52.59% (4th)
St. Louis 51.75% (6th)

Faceoffs:
Chicago 49.3% (19th)
St. Louis 50.7% (11th)

SUMMARY:

After an absolutely heartbreaking loss to the Blackhawks, at home, just two nights previous, the Blues try once again to gain some ground in the Colorado Avalanche.  If the Blackhawks can win once again the Blues will be one step closer to being eliminated from the playoffs.  Talk about sweet irony.

The Avalanche had a chance to stick a dagger into the heart of the Blues by beating the Sharks, last night, but failed to do so with a 4-2 regulation loss.  The Blues now hold their destiny in their hands.  If the Blackhawks win this game, they hold off the Blues fate until Saturday night.  If they lose, the Blues hop over the Avs by one point.

After the Blackhawks announced Thursday that they would be bringing back coach Joel Quenneville and GM Stan Bowman, some of the off-season drama has been eliminated.  The team can now concentrate on the draft and free agency.

As far as the Blackhawks go, Andreas Martinsen and Blake Hillman are coming off a big game.  They both scored their first goals as Blackhawks, on Wednesday.  Hillman’s goal was his first pro goal since signing his entry level deal on March 27th.  Both are looking to throw their hats in the ring for spots next fall.

Tomas Jurco was sick, as of the morning skate, and is questionable for tonight.  As a result, Joel Quenneville indicated that he could possibly go with seven defensemen, if Jurco is out.

Lastly, tonight will be bittersweet, as the Blackhawks honor Stan Mikita with a “One More Shift” celebration.  Due to his medical condition, his grandsons will take the ice representing him.

This could also be the last time Patrick Sharp plays in the United Center, as he is coming to the end of his career, and certainly his time with the Blackhawks organization.

Join our discussion below and look out for a recap following the game or tomorrow.

Follow me on Twitter @PuckinHostile

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About Jeff Osborn

Jeff has covered the Blackhawks since 2009 with his former website www.puckinhostile.com and podcast The Puckin Hostile Shoutcast until 2017, when he moved over to The Rink. After a short hiatus to cover the inaugural Seattle Kraken season, he came back to Blackhawks coverage and started "The Net Perspective" podcast to discuss goaltending and goaltender development.

     

Center Ice Forums Chicago Blackhawks vs St Louis Blues Preview & Game Thread

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  • #6438
    Jeff Osborn
    Keymaster

    Chicago Blackhawks (33-37-10) vs St. Louis Blues (43-31-6) TIME: 7:30PM Central/8:30PM Eastern RADIO: WGN 720 TV: NBCSCH PROJECTED GOALIES: Chicago: J
    [To continue reading full article, click here: Chicago Blackhawks vs St Louis Blues Preview & Game Thread]

    #6445
    Chico Maki
    Participant

    Does Sharp have a roster spot on this team next year? Cheap contract?

    He’s played better the last 10 games or so. Or go with the youth?

     

    #6446
    Chico Maki
    Participant

    Hawks are sleep walking thru this game. Like….8 shots into the second period.

     

    #6447
    6628
    Participant

    Fuck this horseshit. Bring on the teams that give a shit for the net two months.

    #6454
    Alan Parsons
    Participant

    Sharp is fucking terrible.

    #6455
    Alan Parsons
    Participant

    Theres nothing to hate about Blake Hillman though.  He has played like a rookie, but his mistakes are not egregious, he had made a few turnovers, but they are not the horrific cross ice pass types, and he has shown some great instincts to keep pucks alive in the O zone.  Give him a season or two in Rockford and you might have a good defenseman there who can eat minutes in the NHL.  At least he tries to throw his weight around.  Lets get 20 pounds on that kid and see what happens.

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