The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are squaring off for the first time this season. Their first tilt will be featured on NBC Sports in Wednesday Night Rivalry.
Let’s take a look at the keys to the game.
Blackhawks vs Blues
ML: +100 / -120
O/U: 5.5
Firstly, it’s worth noting that this will be the first game Eddie Olczyk will call after his unfortunate cancer diagnosis. Olczyk has officially begun bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments, which has robbed him of the time and energy to fulfill his usual role on Blackhawks TV. However, he will be on the call alongside his usual partner Mike “Doc” Emrick, and will also be a part of the following night’s Blackhawks game against the Edmonton Oilers in Chicago.
Welcome back, Edzo. Stay strong.
Chicago took three of five from the St. Louis Blues in last season’s series. One of the Blues’ two wins came in the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium, home of the Cardinals.
Both of the Blues’ victories over the Blackhawks last season came by three goals. Chicago’s three wins came by only one goal, excluding last-minute empty-netters. One came in overtime.
St. Louis started off the season 4-0, but dropped their last two in Florida to the Panthers and Lightning. After a tough opening two weeks of travel, the Blues have had three days of rest to prep for the arrival of their Central Division rivals.
That may just help their cause on the injury front.
The Blues have been rocked by injuries, even at this early stage of the game. Alexander Steen has missed the last four games with a broken hand, but he has returned to practice and appears to be a gametime decision. Jaden Schwartz has been battling an illness and is also questionable.
Their strong start has masked lingering issues that have risen to the surface these last couple of games. Their defense is bleeding shots, putting a big workload on Jake Allen and Carter Hutton.
When the defense can’t exit the zone, it becomes that much harder to for the forwards to go on the attack. The Blues have gotten five even-strength goals from forwards, and two of them are from Vladimir Tarasenko. Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz and Paul Stastny have the other three. In other words, depth scoring is an issue.
Predictably so.
The Blues are waiting for the eruption of Vladimir Sobotka. He has four assists in six games, but proved that he can be a game-changing forward in the postseason. He had six points in 11 games and gave the Blues a much-needed spark in their middle lines.
His production, as well as Magnus Paajarvi’s, will be key to sustaining the Blues’ success until they get some of their reinforcements back.
The Blues have five even-strength (non-empty net) goals by forwards this season: Tarasenko (2), Schenn, Stastny, Schwartz. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) October 15, 2017
Joel Quenneville and company are no strangers to Wednesday Night Rivalry. In fact, the Hawks are slated for eight Wednesday Night Rivalry games this season, plus an additional game on NBC and a Sunday Night game. Usually, the Hawks reward NBC when they are thrust into the spotlight, as they are 4-1 in their last five Wednesday Night games.
John Hayden lands a monster right on Foligno. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/AJ8af2HRk9
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) October 13, 2017
Chicago has also had three days off since their last game, as their offense is finally returning to the stratosphere. After tallying 22 goals in their first four games, they have been held to just two goals a game in their last pair.
However will they manage through this offensive drought?
Apparently pretty well, as the team is still 4-1-1.
Nick Schmaltz of the Chicago Blackhawks sat out last game with an upper-body injury, but looks set to return to the action. Schmaltz will center the second line with the red-hot Ryan Hartman and Patrick Kane. He had two goals and an assist on opening night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He also will center the Hawks’ second powerplay unit.
Ryan Hartman is the best fantasy acquisition you can make right now. He is already well on his way to equalling his assist total from last year (12) with six so far. He had a goal and an assist in the Hawks’ 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He is tied for the team lead in points with eight.
Finishing out the line is Hartman’s co-leader in points Patrick Kane, who also has two goals and six assists.
Brandon Saad has himself six goals and two assists skating on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik.
Panik had himself a nice coming-out party last season registering 22 goals and 22 assists. He’s now become one of the most dependable scoring options on this team, already at three goals and three assists through six games. Playing on the top line will help scoring numbers, but he contributes in every facet of the game.
Every year it seems like the Chicago Blackhawks have a new player come out of the woodwork and quietly contribute to the team’s success. Throwing his hat into the ring this year is Alex DeBrincat, 19-year-old winger from Farmington Hills, Michigan. He has a goal and two assists so far and is being tried out on the second powerplay unit.
PP1: Schmaltz-Hartman-Kane, Seabrook-Sharp
PP2: Keith, Toews-Panik-Saad-DeBrincat
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 17, 2017
Both teams are looking to turn things around in a way. The Blackhawks have their sights set on winning the Central once again and want to keep their offense on the right track. Going up against a team that is faltering a bit in their own end will likely help their confidence.
The Blues are a team that is trying to keep their heads above the water. Changes in their roster and injuries have stripped them of several offensive weapons. A victory at home against the Chicago Blackhawks would be a statement to the rest of the league that they are not going to simply roll over in the face of adversity.
In the hockey season, there is no off-game. Every single matchup bears some importance.
As a bettor, money is best spent on the more confident team in this case. And that means going with the Blackhawks to win. Expect Chicago to take Jake Allen to task.
Prediction: Take the Blackhawks to win. Play the under.
