St. Louis Blues (10-8-1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (6-12-0)
On Sunday, the St. Louis Blues will face-off against their fierce rivals from Chicago Blackhawks who currently trail in the league with 6-12-0 record. Hockey fans and bettors alike should anticipate an incredible NHL regular-season showdown! Both teams will prepare to go head to head at United Center while fans searching for free NHL picks will find plenty of insightful data available in this analysis.
The Blues have had an admirable campaign this season and should bring their A game on offense to this matchup against the Blackhawks. Their leaders have been key to their success: Robert Thomas has led with 8 goals and 12 assists while Pavel Buchnevich boasts a shooting percentage of 15.9% which has enabled reliable scoring capabilities for his side. Their ability to penetrate their opponent’s defense, which has shown vulnerabilities at home games, will be essential in this contest.
Conversely, the Blackhawks despite their dismal season have shown glimpses of offensive potential. Center Connor Bedard stands out with 10 goals and an 18.5% shooting percentage that makes him an immediate threat to Blues defense. Furthermore, their offensive line featuring Philipp Kurashev and Jason Dickinson could exploit any weaknesses in Blues defensive strategies and possibly turn the tide of battle in their favor.
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game Info
| When: | Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET |
| Where: | United Center |
| TV: | NHL |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Jordan Binnington vs. Goaltender Petr Mrazek
Jordan Binnington has a losing 5-5 record in 14 starts this season, posting a 2.96 GAA and .906 save percentage. The Blues allow the 11th most shots on goal per game at 32.4, so Binnington sees plenty of action on a nightly basis. He’s faced 406 shots already, making 368 saves. Binnington has kept the Blues in games, holding opponents to three goals or less in 10 of his 14 starts. The Blackhawks offense has struggled this year, averaging just 2.72 goals per game – second worst in the NHL. If St. Louis can limit Chicago’s opportunities through disciplined defense, Binnington should fare well in this matchup. Binnington has historically dominated the Blackhawks, boasting a sparkling 10-2-1 record with a 1.86 GAA versus Chicago in his career. He will look to continue that mastery on Sunday. The Blues have his back, allowing the eighth fewest high-danger chances per 60 minutes at even strength. Binnington just needs average goal support to potentially steal two points for St. Louis.
Petr Mrazek holds a 3.24 GAA and .904 save percentage through 11 starts for the Blackhawks this season. He faces an uphill battle against the Blues offense scoring 3.56 goals per game. The St. Louis power play clicks at a 22.2% rate and will seriously test Chicago’s penalty kill that ranks dead last in the NHL at 73.3%. The Blues also allow the fifth fewest shots against per contest at 28.3. So Mrazek figures to see limited action behind a porous Blackhawks defense. In three career starts against St. Louis, Mrazek owns an 0-2 record with a subpar 4.02 GAA. The Blues tagged him for 10 total goals over those three outings. Mrazek will need to be sharp and rely on help from his teammates to keep this Sunday’s game competitive.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: St. Louis Blues -156, Total Odds: 6.5
Looking at the current betting odds, the Blues are favored with a Moneyline of -156 and a total of 6.5. This suggests that bettors are leaning towards a game with a decent number of goals, considering both teams’ offensive capabilities and recent trends.
St. Louis Blues Betting Trends
The Blues are 5-1 straight up in their last six versus the Blackhawks. They have owned this series with nine wins in the past 12 meetings. St. Louis is just 4-9 SU on the road though. However, they are 5-1 straight up over their last six road games against Chicago. The over has hit in four of the Blues’ last five contests versus divisional foes. It has also gone over in four of St. Louis’ last six Sunday matchups.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
The Blackhawks have lost five straight games and are just 1-5 SU over their previous six overall. They have been dreadful at the United Center with two wins in their last 13 home contests. Chicago is 1-4 SU over its last five home matchups against the Blues. The over is 5-2 in the Blackhawks’ previous seven games versus Western Conference opponents. The over cashed in 11 of Chicago’s last 16 November tilts as well.
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks 11/26/23 Betting Picks
In light of the provided data and analysis, my final thoughts lean towards a game dominated by offense, with both teams finding the back of the net frequently. The Blues, with their strong record against the Blackhawks and offensive leaders, seem to have the upper hand, especially considering Chicago’s struggling home record.
For bettors looking for the best online casino and betting options, the Blues might be the safer pick, particularly on the Moneyline. Considering the over/under, the trend towards high-scoring games for both teams suggests that betting over 6.5 could be a viable option.
