A crucial match is in the offing when the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues get entangled for the fifth time in what has been a wild series. Which team will take a step closer towards the second round?
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues Round 1, Game 5 Preview – NHL Playoffs Series
Game 1 –April 17, Chicago 3, St. Louis 4 (OT)
Game 2 – April 19, Chicago 3, St. Louis 4 (OT)
Game 3 – April 21, St. Louis 0, Chicago 2
Game 4 – April 23, St. Louis 4, Chicago 4 (OT)
Game 5 – April, 8:00 PM ET, Chicago (-105) at St. Louis (-115); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Game 6 – April 27, 3:00 PM ET, St. Louis at Chicago
Game 7 (if necessary) – April 29, Chicago at St. Louis
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are back. After being behind in the series by two games, the Blackhawks won two in a row at home, including their 4-3 overtime win on Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues.
Chicago’s penalty kill has been doing a fantastic job, having killed 19 of St. Louis 21 (92.3%) opportunities in the series. However, it would help the Blackhawks even more if they could avoid coughing up pucks on offense. In Game 4, they had 13 giveaways.
A proven winner at home, Chicago must now show it can pick up wins on the road. The Blackhawks are just 1-9 in their last 10 games away from United Center. In addition, they have dropped their last five games in St. Louis.
Betting on the St. Louis Blues
After getting shut out in Game 3, the Blues recovered their scoring touch in the following contest, scoring three goals in Wednesday night’s loss. St. Louis now heads back to home ice, hoping to turn the series around.
The Blues have outshot Chicago in the series (150-129) and are averaging 37.5 shots per game – second most in the Playoffs. They’re doing a good job of keeping Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford busy, but they also must stop wasting opportunities on offense, especially on the power play.
Despite the loss, the Blues got an encouraging performance from Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored his third and fourth goal of the series in Game 4.
The Blue are 5-0 in their last five home games against Chicago. They are also 5-2 under in their last seven home games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
After losing the first two games of the series, the Blackhawks are now looking like the team that went all the way in 2010 to win the Cup. They’ve shown consistency on offense and on defense in the past two games, and will continue their great play in Game 5. Blackhawks will win by two goals at St. Louis.
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