The Chicago Blackhawks face their first red-letter opponent of the season when they travel to the Scottrade Center Saturday night to take on the team they eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season: the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues should be ready to come with their best effort as the Blackhawks come calling. Ken Hitchcock's Blues have been a powerful regular-season team in recent years, but they have disappointed in the playoffs.
While they won't be able to change that assessment until April, coaches like to get the measure of their teams by seeing how they compete against top rivals. A game in October is not going to settle any arguments, but it can set a tone for how the season series between the two teams will go.
The Blackhawks (4-1-1) are off to a productive start this season, while the Blues (2-3-1) have had problems asserting their offense. Look for a hard-hitting, physical battle between two teams that are likely to be among the best in the league and also share a deep dislike for each other.
We break down the game, provide the edges in four categories and predict a winner.
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Article written by Steve Silverman
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues: Which Rival Makes an Opening Statement?
October 23rd, 2014 by Steve Silverman Leave a reply »
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