Blues at Blackhawks
Chicago needs all it can get from Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and hopes its veteran stars continue their torrid scoring pace when the Blackhawks host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Toews boasts five goals and eight points, and Kane has four and seven - with all but one assist during 5-on-5 play - while playing on separate lines, spearheading an offense that leads the Western Conference with 18 goals en route to a 2-0-2 start.
“With those guys leading the way, that’s what we’re looking for,” Chicago's Brandon Saad told reporters about Toews and Kane. “It kinda takes the pressure off, but at the same time, once we get everybody contributing, we’re gonna be a tough team to beat.” Despite their fast start offensively, the Blackhawks are 1-for-15 on the power play - they were tied for 28th last season with the man advantage at 16 percent - and are also struggling on the penalty kill, permitting four goals in 13 short-handed chances. St. Louis is coming off its first victory of the season, a 5-3 decision over Calgary on Thursday behind David Perron's hat trick. Chicago prevailed 5-4 on Oct. 6 in the first of five meetings this season as Toews completed his sixth career three-goal game in overtime - the fourth straight time the road team has won in the series.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE BLUES (1-1-1): Perron, playing his third stint with St. Louis, was promoted to the No. 2 line, joining Jaden Schwartz and center Brayden Schenn, and made coach Mike Yeo look good by recording his fourth career hat trick. Rookie forwards Robert Thomas, the 20th overall selection in the 2017 draft, and Jordan Kyrou, a second-round pick in 2016, each recorded an assist Thursday for their first career points. Jake Allen (1-1-1, 4.28 goals-against average, .854 save percentage) is 8-5-2, 2.69, .909 in 15 career games (14 starts) versus the Blackhawks.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (2-0-2): Duncan Keith, 35, who boasts a career plus-144 rating, will play his 1,000th game Saturday, telling reporters: “It’s obviously a huge accomplishment. I’m proud of it. More than anything I’m proud to be in the NHL this long and play with a lot of great players and a great organization for a great coach. Just all the good players and good guys that I’ve been able to be on this ride with.” Dominik Kahun scored his first NHL goal Thursday and has three points and is a plus-3 after four career games while skating with Toews and Alex DeBrincat (four goals, seven points). Cam Ward (2-0-2, 4.41, .867) is expected to start in goal Saturday before handing the baton to Corey Crawford, who is poised to make his season debut Thursday versus Arizona after recovering from a concussion.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago LW Alexandre Fortin, 21, was a minus-2 with one shot in 8:49 of ice time Thursday in his NHL debut.
2. St. Louis is 4-for-16 on the power play and has killed 9 of 10 penalties.
3. The Blackhawks have opened the season with four overtime games.