Blackhawks vs Blues NHL Line/Handicapping
Rivalry Night – Hawks Visit Blues in Western Conference Heavyweight Showdown
The Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues renew hostilities on Wednesday night when the Hawks, off a 3-2 extra-time loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning try to knock the Blues out of the unbeaten ranks.
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Chicago Blackhawks (1-0-1) at St. Louis Blues (2-0-0)
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast: NBCSN
Hawks vs. Blues Betting Lines
Chicago Blackhawks +1½ -280 +110 Ov 5½ +118
St Louis Blues -1½ +235 -121 Un 5½ -130
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St Louis will be no pushover – they have scored 11 goals in two games this year and goaltender Jaroslav Halak is again staking his claim as one of the best in the NHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks should be used to being the hunted rather than the hunter and this year is no different. Tampa brought their A-Game last time out and beat Chicago despite the Hawks largely outplaying them. Seriously, the Hawks deserve to be 2-0 – they are stacked top to bottom.
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14 roster players have at least one point already in two games for Chicago. Their depth is certainly enviable heading into their third game of the season. Brandon Saad has two goals and two assists in four games already, Patrick Kane has two goals and D-Man Nick Hjalmarsson has three assists already this young season.
Corey Crawford is about the only question mark for Chicago ahead of the Wednesday night showdown. He has given up six goals against so far – a .875 save percentage. But Crawford is 6-0-1 with a 1.44 goals-against average in his last six appearances against the Blues. [ad-4437448]
The St. Louis Blues were expected to contend this year and if their first two games is any indication, they should challenge at season’s end. You can point to Jaroslav Halak early in the season for the success. He has given up just two goals in two starts and has a .959 save percentage so far. Halak is 3-1-3 with a 2.08 GAA in seven career starts against Chicago.
Balance is a big part of St. Louis’s game – just like that of Chicago. In a win against Florida Saturday seven different players scored goals. Newcomers Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy each scored Saturday – they bring offensive depth the Blues have not enjoyed in quite some time.
The Blues also have a knack of playing a physical brand of hockey that can give a finesse team like Chicago fits. St. Louis will bring the toughness and make things hard on the Hawks each and every shift.
NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 11-2-3 in CHI last 16 road games.
• CHI are 45-15 in their last 60 vs. Central.
• CHI are 53-20 in their last 73 overall.
• Over is 4-1-3 in STL last 8 Wed. games.
• Under is 20-6-4 in STL last 30 overall.
• Under is 15-5-3 in STL last 23 home games.
• Home team is 14-5 in the last 19 meetings.
The Blackhawks went 3-1-1 in last season’s series and have won five of the last seven matchups overall. But defensively the Hawks have been a tad unflattering so far and with the Blues lighting the lamp early and often so far this young season, expect the Hawks to have a rough time in St. Louis Wednesday night. The Blues are hot and may have caught the defending champs at precisely the right time.
Pick: St. Louis Blues -121
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