Two teams that have underperformed to start the year, the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks meet at the United Center. This Central Division matchup will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 14 and it’s being televised live on NBC Sports Network.
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago (-120) is the favorite over St. Louis (+100) and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
The Blackhawks are 6-12 straight-up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -6.2 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2017-18 season (33-49). Through 18 regular season contests, 10 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 3-5 SU at home so far this year.
Chicago’s converted on just 12.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that puts the team in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. 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 contests total, and 3.2 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition 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 most dependable goalkeeper for the Blackhawks this year. If they, however, decide to rest him, head coach Jeremy Colliton might roll with Corey Crawford (3-6-6 record, .901 save percentage, 3.07 goals against average).
Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat will each be offensive focal points for the Blackhawks. Kane (22 points) has tallied 12 goals and 10 assists and has recorded two or more points in six different games this year. DeBrincat has nine goals and seven assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 10 contests.
Over on the visiting bench, St. Louis is 6-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Eight of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As a road team , St. Louis is 1-3 SU.
St. Louis has scored on 28.1 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis’ skaters have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season. Last year, 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 (.879 save percentage and 3.99 goals against average) 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.
For the visiting Blues, the offense will be facilitated through Ryan O’Reilly, who has 13 assists and eight goals this season.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- 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 home outings.
- Chicago has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but has been averaging 1.8 goals per contest in its last eight contests (the team is 0-8 SU over that stretch).
- Seven of St. Louis’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
- St. Louis skaters recorded 23.1 hits per game last season, while the Blackhawks logged 16.8 hits per matchup.
