St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions February 8th 2025

Blues Seek Redemption Against Blackhawks After Tough Losses

The St. Louis Blues (23-25-4, 50 points) will look to snap a three-game losing streak when they face the Chicago Blackhawks (15-35-3, 33 points) on Saturday night at Enterprise Center.

The Blues are coming off back-to-back gut-wrenching losses against two of the NHL’s elite teams. They took Edmonton to overtime before falling 3-2, then lost to Florida in the final seconds of regulation.

Head coach Jim Montgomery hopes the lessons from those games will help the Blues re-establish their identity as a team capable of grinding out wins.

“That’s a (Panthers) team that’s won the Stanley Cup, they know who they are,” Montgomery said. “We have to establish that kind of regularity with our identity.”

Despite playing well, the Blues remain just 1-5-1 in their last seven games and need a win to salvage their homestand before the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Blues’ Key Takeaways from Recent Struggles

Finding Offense at Key Moments

• The Blues have scored just four goals in their last two games.
• They outshot Florida 30-29 but failed to capitalize on prime scoring chances.
• Oskar Sundqvist remains optimistic:
  “We’re right there. We just need that last percent to tip it over to wins.”

Home-Ice Struggles Continue

• St. Louis is just 11-14-2 at Enterprise Center this season.
• They have lost five of their last six home games.
• The Blues must turn their home ice into an advantage heading into the season’s second half.

Jordan Binnington Expected in Net

• Binnington stopped 28 of 30 shots in the last meeting between these teams, a 6-2 St. Louis win at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31.
• With the 4 Nations Face-Off upcoming, this could be his final start before joining Team Canada.

Blackhawks: Can They Build on Friday’s Momentum?

Chicago enters this game after an impressive 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Friday night, marking just their fourth win in their last 14 games.

Key Blackhawks Storylines

Connor Bedard Leading the Charge

• The rookie phenom scored a goal and added an assist against Nashville.
• Over his last 21 games, he has nine goals and 13 assists.
• Interim coach Anders Sorensen praised his progress:
  “There’s a lot of pressure on him, but I think he puts more pressure on himself than anybody.”

Jason Dickinson Out With Injury

• The veteran forward suffered an ankle sprain and missed Friday’s game.
• He will also be unavailable against the Blues, forcing Chicago to shuffle its lines.

Arvid Soderblom Likely to Start in Goal

• Petr Mrazek started Friday against Nashville, meaning Soderblom is expected in net.
• Mrazek allowed six goals on 28 shots in the Winter Classic loss to St. Louis in December.

Key Matchups to Watch

Jordan Binnington vs. Connor Bedard

• Binnington has been solid against Chicago, but Bedard is starting to heat up offensively.
• The Blackhawks’ offense still ranks last in the NHL (2.20 goals per game).

Blues’ Power Play vs. Chicago’s Penalty Kill

• St. Louis ranks 26th in the NHL on the power play (16.8%).
• Chicago’s penalty kill is even worse, ranking 31st (74.6%).
• If the Blues can convert power-play chances, they should control the game.

Will the Blues’ Defense Hold Late in the Game?

• St. Louis gave up the game-winner to Florida with 12 seconds left.
• The Blues must close out tight games, something they’ve struggled with this season.

Prediction: Will the Blues Finally Close One Out?

The Blues know they can’t afford another heartbreaking loss before heading into the break.

Despite their recent struggles, they have dominated Chicago this season and should be able to end their homestand on a high note.

Final Score Prediction:
St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Expect a bounce-back performance from Jordan Binnington, while the Blues capitalize on Chicago’s struggling defense to snap their losing streak.

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Final Thoughts

• Can St. Louis end their homestand with a win?
• Will Connor Bedard continue his hot streak?
• Can the Blues finally find consistency before the break?

This is a must-win game for St. Louis to gain confidence heading into the season’s second half.