PREMIUM
Rogers' NHL PLAY OF THE DAY >> SIZZLING 15-4 NHL RUN!
(NHL) St. Louis vs. Chicago,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -244.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 1.50 | -244.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The St. Louis Blues have lost four straight and at 43-31-6 on the season, find themselves against the ropes in a bid to secure the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Blues have 92 points, one point behind the Avalanche for the final wild-card spot. St. Louis' most recent loss saw Chicago storm back from a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 victory. Defenseman Duncan Keith scored in the final seconds to complete the comeback and weaken the Blues' playoff chances. St. Louis goaltender Jake Allen took the blame for the loss (more later). The Blues play tonight in Chicago and then finish the season with a Saturday road game in Colorado. The 33-37-10 Blackhawks have just three wins in their last 10 outings (3-5-2), as they head toward their first spring without a playoff appearance since 2007-08. However, the team did address its future on Thursday by announcing that senior vice president/general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville will remain in their current positions next season.
St. Louis: Vladimir Tarasenko joined Brayden Schenn by scoring and setting up a goal on Wednesday in the loss to the Blackhawks. Tarasenko has a team-high 33 goals but his 66 points are one behind team leader, Schenn. Schenn continued his career season with 10 points in his last 12 games, boosting his personal-best totals in goals (27), assists (40) and points (67). Getting back to Allen taking the blame for the loss, other Blues players said nerves might have played a role. "If you're going to play nervous, then you better play smart," St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It (stinks), but at the end of the day, we have to stay positive," Blues center Brayden Schenn said. "Two-game winning streak here to get into the postseason." Allen is expected to get another chance in net Friday for St. Louis. The 27-year-old is 27-24-3 with a 2.74 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 58 games (55 starts) on the season
Chicago: Tonight's contest at the United Center is the finale of the home-and-home series. Rookie Alex DeBrincat, who had a hat trick in a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis on March 18, scored and set up a goal on Wednesday to boost his point total to 10 (six goals, four assists) in his past nine games. DeBrincat's owns a team-leading 28 goals are one more than former Hart Trophy recipient Patrick Kane, who has a team-leading 74 points. Jonathan Toews has 52 points (as does DeBrincat), while Nick Schmaltz has 51 points (21 goals).
The pick: St. Louis has won five of its last seven trips to the United Center (including the postseason) but knowing it can make the playoffs by winning tomorrow night in Colorado, make teh Blues a shaky investment in this contest. Allen is expected to be in net for the Blues and he is 8-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA and .915 save percentage. However, he also comes in winless in his last four contests. The Blackhawks have been eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade but it is safe to assume that a pride-filled Chicago roster will energized (as will be the crowd) at the possibility of crushing the postseason hopes of its longtime division rival. "It'd be nice to see them miss the playoffs," Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane said to the Chicago Sun-Times this week. "So it'd be nice to have a hand in that." Take the 1 1/2 goals and make Chicago a 6* play.
St. Louis: Vladimir Tarasenko joined Brayden Schenn by scoring and setting up a goal on Wednesday in the loss to the Blackhawks. Tarasenko has a team-high 33 goals but his 66 points are one behind team leader, Schenn. Schenn continued his career season with 10 points in his last 12 games, boosting his personal-best totals in goals (27), assists (40) and points (67). Getting back to Allen taking the blame for the loss, other Blues players said nerves might have played a role. "If you're going to play nervous, then you better play smart," St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It (stinks), but at the end of the day, we have to stay positive," Blues center Brayden Schenn said. "Two-game winning streak here to get into the postseason." Allen is expected to get another chance in net Friday for St. Louis. The 27-year-old is 27-24-3 with a 2.74 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 58 games (55 starts) on the season
Chicago: Tonight's contest at the United Center is the finale of the home-and-home series. Rookie Alex DeBrincat, who had a hat trick in a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis on March 18, scored and set up a goal on Wednesday to boost his point total to 10 (six goals, four assists) in his past nine games. DeBrincat's owns a team-leading 28 goals are one more than former Hart Trophy recipient Patrick Kane, who has a team-leading 74 points. Jonathan Toews has 52 points (as does DeBrincat), while Nick Schmaltz has 51 points (21 goals).
The pick: St. Louis has won five of its last seven trips to the United Center (including the postseason) but knowing it can make the playoffs by winning tomorrow night in Colorado, make teh Blues a shaky investment in this contest. Allen is expected to be in net for the Blues and he is 8-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA and .915 save percentage. However, he also comes in winless in his last four contests. The Blackhawks have been eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade but it is safe to assume that a pride-filled Chicago roster will energized (as will be the crowd) at the possibility of crushing the postseason hopes of its longtime division rival. "It'd be nice to see them miss the playoffs," Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane said to the Chicago Sun-Times this week. "So it'd be nice to have a hand in that." Take the 1 1/2 goals and make Chicago a 6* play.
