Surging Blackhawks Meet Blues in Central Division Showdown

The NHL regular season is winding to an end with just a handful of games left for each team. On Sunday evening, a big rivalry renews when the St. Louis Blues face off against the Chicago Blackhawks.

St. Louis on the season is 48-23-2 overall and 23-12-2 on the road. It their past 10 games played, the Blues are 5-3-1. Chicago overall on the season is 48-24-3 and 24-10-3 on the road. In their past 10 games played, the Blackhawks are 7-3.

Chicago looks to continue its rapid rise in the Central Division on Sunday. The game is the first of two games between the bitter rivals over the next five days. On Friday, Chicago got two goals from Jonathan Toews the team captain within a span of 47 seconds during the third period as the Blackhawks defeated Buffalo for their four consecutive win.

This week, Toews has three game winning goals. He has five goals and one assist during his point streak of five straight games. The Blackhawks are now just one point behind second place St. Louis and two behind Nashville the division leaders.

Chicago has played superbly at the United Center of late with a record of 11-0-2 over its past 13 games on its home ice. St. Louis enters the game on Sunday with a winning streak of 2 games highlighted by a victory over Dallas of 7-5 on Friday.

Patrick Berglund scored twice against Dallas and has scored three goals and handed out one assist in his past two games.

Marian Hossa has a point streak of four games for Chicago with 1 goal and 4 assists. Hossa scored twice in Chicago’s 4-2 win over St. Louis February 8. Goalie Corey Crawford is 12-2-3 versus St. Louis and his next win – No. 33 – will match a career high.

Vladmir Tarasenko a right wing for St. Louis, has missed consecutive games due to injury and is day to day.

Marcus Kruger a center for Chicago has 7 goals this season of which 2 are versus St. Louis. Jake Allen a goalie for St. Louis is 3-0-1 over his past four starts and will start Sunday.

The OVER has gone 3-0-3 in the past 6 games between the two teams. The team at home is 36-17 over the past 53 games between the two teams. St. Louis is 1-6 over its past 7 games versus Chicago.

Prediction: The Blackhawks are nearly unbeatable of late especially at home. I like the Blackhawks by a score of 4-2.