St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Western Conference First Round Game Three – April 17, 2016

Game 2 of the first round series between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks was controversial as it was exhilarating. Chicago managed to even up the series, but St. Louis is eager to return the favor to the Blackhawks when the series moves to the Windy City this Saturday. Will the Blues take the series lead again? Or will the defending champions make it two in a row over St. Louis? Read on for more about Game 3 of this series. You can also check out our Game 3 preview of Lightning vs.  Red Wings.

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St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game 3 Preview

Where: United Center, Chicago

When: Sunday, April 17, 2016, 3:00 PM ET

Line: St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks – view all NHL lines

TV Broadcast: NBC

Betting on the St. Louis Blues

Playing physical didn’t mean much for the Blues in Game 2. For the second-straight time, St. Louis dished out 41 hits on the Blackhawks, who only had 24 and 25 in Game 1 and 2, respectively, but lost the game on Friday, 3-2.

Perhaps head coach Ken Hitchcock should put less focus on smashmouth hockey and more on puck possession. The Blues won Game 1 despite taking just 18 shots as against Chicago’s 35. They managed to outshoot Chicago in Game 2, 31-29, but could have had more if it weren’t for the six times they gave the puck away.

Hitchcock may want to change tactic, as the Blackhawks could care less taking tons of hits so long as they control the puck more often than St. Louis does.

Vladimir Tarasenko would want more time on the attack after scoring his first goal of the series in Game 2. Tarasenko, who led the Blues with 40 goals in the regular season, only had a single shot on goal in Game 1 before unloading four in the next contest. He’ll look to build on that momentum as he tries to get Brian Elliott some cushion.

Elliot has been eating pucks for breakfast in the first two games of the series, wherein he rejected 61 of Chicago’s 63 shots. It’s likely Elliott will be between the pipes in Game 3 again, considering the near-flawless job he’s done so far. The Blues are 7-0 in Elliott’s last seven road starts.

Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks must have had a big sigh of relief after knowing they’ll head back home with the series tied. Aside from video review technology that helped the referees call off a Vladimir Tarasenko score in the third period, the Blackhawks also have to give props to Andrew Shaw and Corey Crawford for the victory on Friday.

Shaw scored the game-winner late in the third frame, while Crawford was a man possessed in front of the net for Chicago. The netminder froze 29 of the Blues’ 31 shots on goal in Game 2 and should remain the Blackhawks’ goalie of choice this Saturday. Crawford was solid in United Center back in the regular season, as he had a 35-18-5 record with a 2.37 GAA and .924 SV% across 58 starts there. Dating back to 2013, the Blackhawks are 6-2 in Crawford’s eight home starts against St. Louis.

Crawford is also counting on Chicago’s offense to deliver in Game 3. Patrick Kane didn’t score on Friday, but had two assists. Kane was barely felt in Game 1, when he went pointless. Team captain Jonathan Toews, meanwhile, also recovered from a scoreless Game 1 despite attempting seven shots, as he chipped in an assists on Friday. He launched four shots on goal in Game 2 so expect him to continue being busy this Saturday in Chicago, where he scored 17 of his regular-season season total 28 goals.

Writer’s Prediction

Chicago wins, 3-2.