Two teams that have underperformed to begin the season, the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks clash at the United Center. NBC Sports Network will showcase this Central Division matchup, and the action gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 14.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago (-120) is being picked as the favorite over St. Louis (+100) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. If you want to play the matchup’s total, you’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
Producing -6.2 units for moneyline gamblers, the Blackhawks are 6-12 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (33-49). Of its 18 games this season, 10 have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and none have pushed. Thus far, the team’s 3-5 SU at home.
Chicago has converted on just 12.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.6 percent of all penalties.
Chicago, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its past five games total, and 3.2 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 7.0 minutes per game over its last five home outings.
Averaging 31.9 saves per game with a .891 save percentage, Cam Ward (3-6-4) has been the best option in goal for the Blackhawks this season. If head coach Jeremy Colliton chooses to give him the night off, however, the Hawks might roll with Corey Crawford (3-6-6 record, .901 save percentage, 3.07 goals against average).
The Hawks will continue to lean on the leadership out of Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. Kane (22 points) has tallied 12 goals and 10 assists and has recorded multiple points on six different occasions this year. DeBrincat has nine goals and seven assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 10 contests.
St. Louis has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 6-9 straight up (SU). Through 15 regular season outings, eight of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under the total and just one has pushed. St. Louis’ 1-3 SU as the away team this season.
St. Louis has converted on 28.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully defended 82.4 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis’ skaters have been called for penalties 4.0 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 3.3, which was the third-lowest mark in the league. After serving an average of 7.7 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.4 minutes per outing this year.
Jake Allen (3.99 goals against average and .879 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for St. Louis. Allen is averaging 27.2 saves per game and has four wins, seven losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Ryan O’Reilly (eight goals, 13 assists) has been one of the primary offensive playmakers for the visiting Blues.
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
For both of these clubs, the under has hit in three of their past five matchups.
St. Louis has managed 30.5 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago is averaging 36.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
The Blackhawks are 1-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 4-9 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Chicago is ranked 18th this season with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended upward lately, as the team has managed 8.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.4 takeaways over its last five.
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