Blackhawks vs. Blues Preview
ST. LOUIS, MO (AP) – A pair of new acquisitions already helped the St. Louis Blues continue their recent success.
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Chicago, meanwhile, is making its own push to get back into the playoff picture while awaiting the return of a familiar figure.
The new-look Blues try for a fourth consecutive victory Monday against the visiting Blackhawks in a matchup of Central Division rivals desperate to move into playoff position.
According to NHL odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Blues -110 money line favorites for Monday’s game against the Blackhawks. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 62% of more than 670 bets for this game have been placed on the Blackhawks -110.
Hours after being traded by Colorado to St. Louis (27-21-9) for former overall No. 1 pick Erik Johnson and Jay McClement, third-year forward Chris Stewart scored twice in a 9-3 win over Anaheim on Saturday.
“It was a perfect start,” said Stewart, who had two goals his last 13 games with Colorado after returning from a broken hand. “It was an easy adjustment.”
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who came over with Stewart a day after the Blues traded captain Eric Brewer to Tampa Bay, added an assist as the Blues posted their highest-scoring game of the season.
“We lost three teammates, great guys, and it was a bit of a shock,” forward Andy McDonald said. “It wasn’t like we had a few days to adjust. I think the guys handled it pretty well.”
St. Louis is 13th in the Western Conference, five points out of the final playoff spot. The Blues are three points behind 11th-place Chicago (30-23-6), which is two points in back of the eighth and final postseason berth.
Looking to win consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 16-22, and trying to avoid a fourth straight loss at St. Louis, the Blackhawks could be without coach Joel Quenneville for a fourth straight game.
Quenneville was released from the hospital Saturday after being treated for gastrointestinal bleeding brought on by a small ulcer.
The Blackhawks improved to 2-1 under assistant Mike Haviland after Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win over Pittsburgh, but they still have plenty of work left in order to defend their Stanley Cup title.
“We’ve got to be confident we can find a way to pull it out,” captain Jonathan Toews said.
Though the teams split four meetings this season, the Blues have outscored the Blackhawks 7-3 to win both in St. Louis. The Blues have outscored opponents 15-5 during their current three-game winning streak.
McDonald and T.J. Oshie each had two goals with an assist against the Ducks. McDonald has four goals and five assists in six games, but only one assist versus Chicago this season.
Oshie has three goals with two assists in two games, and three assists in two against the Blackhawks in 2010-11.
Despite being pulled after allowing three goals on five shots Saturday, Ty Conklin could be in net. He was roughed up in a 7-5 loss at Chicago on Nov. 30, but stopped 25 shots in a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks on Dec. 28.
Three of Patrick Sharp’s team-leading 31 goals have come against St. Louis, but the All-Star MVP was held without a point in that December contest.
Sharp scored his third in two games Sunday and Patrick Kane had the lone shootout goal as the Blackhawks won for the fourth time in 11 games.
Kane has two goals and two assists against the Blues this season, but he’s been held without a point his last three trips to St. Louis.
Chicago plays 14 of its final 23 games on the road where it has lost four of five.
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