There was once a time, including not that long ago, when a matchup between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks would be appointment television. After all the Blackhawks have been a perennial Stanley Cup title contender while the Blues were always just a bit short of such status but a regular in the playoffs. But this year both teams are fighting to stay out of the basement of the Central Division. And Chicago is so desperate that they ended up having to fire three-time Stanley Cup winning coach Joel Quenneville last week. However, most observers believe that whoever coaches Chicago, their best days are clearly behind them.
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St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 8 p.m. ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
NHL Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu: Check Back Later
Blues vs. Blackhawks TV Coverage: NBCSN
Odds Analysis
Despite their recent woes the Chicago Blackhawks are still respected due to all of their past success as the dominant team of the past decade. The Blues have dropped in the esteem of the public as a team that never quite got the job done and is now slumping. Live betting will also be driven by Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane, who remains in top form.
Current Form
St. Louis is 6-5-3-0 while going under the total just five times. Despite the sluggish record the Blues have perked up to win four of their last five games. St. Louis is in sixth place in the Central Division ahead of only Chicago.
Chicago has a record of 6-8-3 with just seven of their games going under the total. The Blackhawks are in free fall with seven losses in their last eight games.
Matchup Metrics
Chicago’s fall from a Stanley Cup dynasty has been stunning and their metrics bear out their new status as an NHL bottom feeder. The Blackhawks rank 23rd in the NHL for goal scoring and 31st for the power play. Even worse and more troubling is their NHL rank of 30th for goals against and 22nd for penalty killing.
St. Louis at least offers one metric that impresses and that is their mark of third best in the NHL for goal scoring while ranking fourth for power play efficiency. Offsetting that is a terrible NHL ranking of 26th for goals allowed.
Goaltending Report
Chicago failed to make the playoffs last year based in large part because of missing goaltender Corey Crawford for over half the season after he sustained a concussion in December. From that point on the Blackhawks never recovered but were optimistic that Crawford’s return would spark a return to the post season. But Crawford has a save percentage of just .901, far below his normal standards, with a 3.07 goals against average. Backup Cam Ward has been even worse with a save percentage of .887 and a 3.92 goals against average.
For St. Louis Jake Allen has gone from “goalie of the future” to instead rate as a big problem. Allen has an absurd .879 save percentage with a 3.99 goals against average. Backup Chad Johnson is pushing for more playing time with a .941 save percentage in five games.
Players to Watch
Blues center Ryan O’Reilly has the hot hand with eight goals, 12 assists and a plus four.
Chicago of course is led by right winger Patrick Kane, who has 12 goals and nine assists.
Free NHL Live Betting Odds Pick
Neither team has impressed and the goaltending is further pause for concern. Chicago is a big-time marquee name but nothing more. The Blackhawks offer no betting value. Yet as a public team they still draw a lot of betting action, especially at home. Quenneville is lucky to have left this mess.
NHL Live Betting Odds Picks: St. Louis Blues
NHL Score Prediction: Blues 4, Blackhawks 2
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