The Chicago Blackhawks started off the season with one of the all time best runs in NHL history and the team has continued its strong play throughout the year and will try to do the same on Saturday afternoon against the St. Louis Blues on the road at the Scottrade Center.
The Blackhawks are poised to make a deep playoff run and have 66 points in the western conference heading into the game, while the Blues have 48. Chicago will have a tough test against goaltender Brian Elliott, who is looking to become the first player to post four straight shutouts in years. The Blues are hoping for another one as they try gain playoff position in the West.
Elliott has used the late season stretch to rebound from early struggles and now has the chance to get close to the five shutouts Brian Boucher had in a row in 2004. The Blues won 2-0 over Minnesota behind a strong game from Elliott and he has won his last five starts and he is closing in on another six game streak, his first since 2011. The western conference has a number of teams bunched together heading into the playoffs and the Blues are playing for a seed.
The Blackhawks are tops in the NHL with 66 points and are up on Anaheim for the top seed in the West after clinching the Central division after defeating Detroit on Friday. Patrick Kane leads the Blackhawks in scoring with 46 points and 20 goals to go along with 26 assists, while Chris Stewart leads the Blues in points and goals.
The Blackhawks are third in scoring this season with over three goals and are tops in goals allowed with just two per game. The team is 20th in power play percentage and fifth in penalty kill percentage with 85.5. The Blues are 23-15-2 and are 13th in scoring with 2.7 per game and 14th in goals against with 2.5. The team is ninth in power play percentage and eighth in penalty kill percentage.
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