Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas – Divisional Round
The Chicago Blackhawks (13-26-4, 30 points, 8th Central) visit the Gateway to the West on Saturday to play the St Louis Blues (23-20-3, 49 points, 5th Central) in a battle between two Central division and Western Conference rivals. Chicago defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Thursday for their second consecutive victory and their fifth victory in the last six. St Louis defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Thursday for their second consecutive victory and the Blues have won four of the last six. Chicago will play without Jujjar Khaira and Jarred Tinordi, while Stalock is questionable. St Louis will play without Robert Bortuzzo, Logan Brown, Torey Krug, Ryan O'Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko and Marco Scandella.
The Chicago Blackhawks are scoring an average of just 2.37 goals per game which is 31st or next to last in the NHL. The Blackhawks are also next to last in shots, averaging just 26.6 shots per game. The power play for Chicago is scoring 20.3% of the time the Blackhawks have the man advantage which is 22nd. Max Domi and Jonathan Toews each have 13 goals to lead Chicago. The leader in assists is Patrick Kane with 21 and Domi is second with 17. Domi is the overall points leader with 30 and Kane has 29. Chicago has scored 26 goals on the power play in 43 games.
Chicago is allowing an average of 3.63 goals per game which is 28th in the NHL. The Blackhawks are allowing an average of 33.5 shots per game which is 26th. Chicago's penalty kill unit successfully holds opponents scoreless only 74.4% of the time the Blackhawks ar e short-handed, which is 24th. Petr Mrazek 5-10-1 with a 3.98 against average and .884 save percentage. Backup Alex Stalock is questionable and third string Arvid Soderblom is 2-10-2 with a 3.45 goals against average and .894 Save percentage.