Free NHL Picks Today: St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks 12/29/22

The Chicago Blackhawks (8-21-4) travel to take on the St. Louis Blues (16-16-3), who will be hoping to halt their losing streak, at Enterprise Center on Thursday. Chicago is coming off a 3-0 loss against the Hurricanes on Tuesday, their fourth defeat in a row away from home.

Petr Mrazek saved an impressive 46 of 49 shots (.938%) in the loss. St. Louis lost for the third straight game, falling 5-4 (OT) to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Four players found the net for the Blues. Jordan Binnington saved only 32 of 37 shots against (.864%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Blues won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-2 victory in November, their third straight win against Chicago. Four players had two points for St. Louis. Andreas Athanasiou led Chicago with two goals. Binnington got the win, saving 25 of 27 shots (.925%).

FACING OFF

Chicago is averaging just 2.27 goals per game for the season, worst in the NHL. The visitors will be looking to improve on that figure against a Blues team that is allowing 3.66 goals a game (28th).

Meanwhile, St. Louis has found the net 3.06 times a game on average, 20th in the league, and the Blackhawks are allowing opponents to score 3.73 goals per game (29th).

Chicago averages fewer shots (26.7) than any other team in the league, while the team’s 8.5% shooting percentage is 30th. St. Louis’ average of 29.5 attempts ranks 25th. The Blues’ 23.47% power play percentage ranks 11th in the league, while the Blackhawks are 20th with a conversion rate of 20.95%.

St. Louis has been less successful at penalty killing, as the hosts possess the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 71.43%. Chicago’s 71.84% ranks 27th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 25 and 23 points this season, Patrick Kane and Max Domi have been the top skaters for the Blackhawks. In the net, Arvid Soderblom (2-10-2) is Chicago’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.45 GAA and a .894% save percentage.

Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas lead the Blues in scoring with 33 and 32 points, respectively. Kyrou has 17 goals and 16 assists in 32 games, while Thomas has eight goals and 24 assists in 34 games. Binnington (12-11-2) has the best goals against average for St. Louis at 3.14. He has a save percentage of .896%.