Preview: Chicago at St. Louis

Matchup Edge

CHI	Edge in:	STL
	Offense
	Defense
	Power Play
	Penalty Kill
	Face Offs
	Discipline
	Goaltending

The Chicago Blackhawks end their Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign looking to extend one more streak when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The Blackhawks have not allowed a goal in their last two trips to St. Louis, blanking the Blues 3-0 on Feb. 28 and 2-0 on April 14. St. Louis, which sits a point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks for fourth place in the Western Conference, has won five consecutive home contests since losing to Chicago, allowing one goal in each victory. The Blackhawks hold a 3-0-1 advantage in the season series between the Central Division rivals.

Corey Crawford is 9-1-2 lifetime against the Blues and made 30 saves in the last shutout. The Blackhawks have one regulation loss in their last 14 games (11-1-2), which came on the road against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday. St. Louis has won 11 of its last 14 contests, 12 of which have featured Brian Elliott in net. Elliott has allowed more than two goals only twice this month, with one of those times being a 4-3 shootout victory at Chicago on April 4. St. Louis is 4-for-16 on the power play in its last four games after scoring just once on its previous 24 opportunities.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (36-6-5): Patrick Kane and captain Jonathan Toews both scored their 23rd goals as part of a 3-1 victory over Calgary on Friday to close Chicago’s season at home. Both Kane and Toews have a team-leading 13 points in April. Ray Emery, who is 17-1-0, missed Friday’s game and also will sit out Saturday with a lower-body injury, but coach Joel Quenneville told reporters on Thursday that the injury was “not serious,” suggesting Emery will be an option in the postseason should Crawford falter. Dave Bolland has missed the last two contests with an undisclosed injury.

ABOUT THE BLUES (28-17-2): Chris Stewart has been very productive at Scottrade Center, scoring 13 of his 18 goals in home contests and registering four points in the first two games of a season-ending three-game homestand. Stewart’s 18 goals in this shortened campaign eclipses his total of 15 in 79 games last season. Jay Bouwmeester leads team defensemen with seven points since arriving from Calgary at the trade deadline. Jaroslav Halak backed up Elliott against the Flames on Thursday, joining the lineup for the first time since suffering a groin injury on April 1.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago is 16-0-1 against divisional opponents.

2. Toews has six points in the four previous games against St. Louis.

3. Adam Cracknell is the only Blues player with more than one goal against Chicago in the last four games. Cracknell’s only two goals this season came against the Blackhawks.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 2, Blues 0

Stats and Records

Quickchart Matchup

Chicago Off vs  St. Louis Def

3.15 GF 2.4 GA 31.3 Shots 24.2 Shots 25 PP 23 PK

St. Louis Off vs  Chicago Def

2.57 GF 2 GA 27.8 Shots 26.2 Shots 29 PP 18 PK