GDT #33: Blues vs Blackhawks 7:00 CT Bally Sports, 101ESPN

[theohall]

BLUES After a difficult loss on Tuesday night, the St. Louis Blues bounced back in a big way for a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers. After three straight losses in net, Joel Hofer denied a career-high 37 shots to get back into the win column. The lone Panthers goal came after an unlikely bounce off the glass at the end of the bench.

"To be honest with you, that is the response I expected," said Drew Bannister, showing confidence in his roster. "It's a character team in there... They dug in there tonight."

The line of Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou continued their success, rebounding from a scoreless outing in Tampa to total eight points and drive the road win over the defending Eastern Conference champions. Since the Dec. 14 win over Ottawa, Kyrou, Thomas and Buchnevich have a combined 19 points in four games.

The Blues head back to Enterprise Center for a three-game homestand, surrounding the Holiday break with divisional battles against Chicago, Dallas and Colorado.

They'll host Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks with a record of 16-15-1, worth 33 points and sixth in the Central Division.

BLACKHAWKS The Chicago Blackhawks snapped a four-game losing streak on Tuesday night, beating the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 at United Center. Back-to-back power-play goals gave Colorado a 2-1 lead midway through the first period, but Chicago's Lukas Reichel quickly tied the score.

During an eventful third period that eventually saw three players served misconduct penalties, Tyler Johnson's eighth goal of the year gave the Blackhawks the lead. Connor Bedard added two assists, extending his lead on the NHL rookie points leaderboard.

The win was Chicago's first since beating the Blues on Dec. 9, following consecutive losses to Washington, Edmonton, Seattle and Vancouver. Bedard's seven points lead the team in that span, the 18-year-old rookie's 28 points on the season are 11 more than the next highest-scoring Blackhawk (Philipp Kurashev).

The Blackhawks begin a back-to-back on Friday night, hosting the Canadiens - who are in the midst of a seven-game road trip - before their one-game trip to St. Louis.

Chicago visits the Blues with a record of 10-20-1, worth 21 points and eighth in the Central Division.

HEAD TO HEAD The Blues are 1-1-0 against the rival Blackhawks, playing their third of four matchups this season after two visits to Chicago. Going back to April 3, 2019, the Blues are 11-2-2 in their last 15 games against Chicago.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Pavel Buchnevich, who bounced back from a tough outing in Tampa for his third three-point night of the season on Thursday night. Buchnevich is second on the team with 26 points this season, including one goal and two assists against Chicago on Nov. 26.

BLACKHAWKS Connor Bedard, leading all NHL rookies with 28 points in 31 games this season. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has seven points in his last five games, though is scoreless in two career matchups with the Blues.

BLUE NOTES
The Blues lost their last home game against the Blackhawks, but are 6-1-1 in their last eight home games against Chicago, including a six-game home win streak from Oct. 27, 2018 to Dec. 29, 2022

The Blues are 14-1-0 when scoring first this season, which shares the 3rd most wins in the NHL. Starting 12-0-0, The Blues were the last team in the League to not have a loss of any kind when scoring first this season

Six Blues prospects are currently slated for their countries rosters for the upcoming 2024 World Junior Championship: Dalibor Dvorsky (SVK), Jimmy Snuggerud (USA), Juraj Pekarcik (SVK), Otto Stenberg (SWE), Aleksanteri Kaskimaki (FIN), and Jakub Stancl (CZE)

Robert Thomas has 12 points in his last nine games and has 18 points in his last 15 games. Since Nov. 1, Thomas has 30 points, which shares sixth in the NHL in that span

The Blues are 3-1-0 under interim head coach Drew Bannister, who became the fourth coach in franchise history to start his tenure with back-to-back wins

[theohall]

We'll see which team shows up tonight. The one that "feels out there opponents" or the one that just executes their game-plan. Option 2 - Blues win. Option 1 - who the heck knows?

[theohall]

So... New coach.... Same team... They went with option 1 through a period and a half.

[theohall]

All right... watching the game now... the 1st goal - a Michigan from Bedard... absolutely NO ONE checks Bedard behind the net. Zero pressure from the D. No center anywhere in sight. Bedard as all the time and space to do whatever the heck he wants and he pots an easy Michigan goal.... Horrible defense from Faulk, Krug, and whomever the F the center was.

The 2nd goal allowed on a deflection, I get....

Blues actually started the game strong, then the very next 2 lines didn't play defense, including the defenseman.

Still watching the rest of the game (although I know the ultimate result) the game shouldn't have needed the comeback.... Rivers game notes about Details - especially defensively weren't there after the Blues scored first.

[theohall]

Watching the game, other than the shift when Bedard scored, it'd be wrong to criticize the Blues effort in the 1st period. They controlled most of the play.

[theohall]

Really did not like the lack of aggression on the PK to start the 2nd period... and it led to a GA...

We'll see what the rest of the 2nd brings... but the start and follow after the GA has been kind of lame.

I must admit Kyrou being allowed to skate and work on puck skills vice being a Berube "200 foot" player has been night and day in terms of what he contributes to the Blues offensively. No, he couldn't win a board battle vs a toddler, but his speed and puck-handling have been difference makers in generating offense in the Blues wins since the coaching change. It's still showing in offensive chances for the Blues in spite of the Blues trailing 3-1 through 25 minutes played.

[theohall]

Holding on Faulk... ok.... he did it.. But that shouldn't eliminate Entwhistle's high stick.. HORRIBLE one way call... if the 'Hawks score on this PP, I'd blame the officials, not the Blues. It should be 4-on-4. Yes, I'm watching the replay and waiting to see what happens.

[SteveO]

Hell of a game tonight!

[theohall]

4th GA... WTF was Krug thinking?? He way overplayed the Blues offensive chance and his over-playing on the offensive side of the puck led to the 2-on-1 against. I can't fault any of the Blues on that GA other than Krug... He didn't need to be that deep in the offensive zone, at all, on the Buchnevich chance.

Honestly, I want to take back what I said earlier. The Blues overall effort has been great. It's momentary failures - 2 of which occurred with Krug on the ice at 5-on-5.

[theohall]

Blackhawks 3rd period SHG... again... WTF was Krug doing???

[theohall]

Blues 6th goal by Faulk is a goal that shouldn't happen. Soderblom missed on an off-speed shot. It's the kind of goal the Blues wouldn't have gotten earlier this season with Berube's insistence on quality shots first, vice just putting shots on goal.

[JCShutout]

What a wild one. It’s ALWAYS good to beat the Hawks so I’m happy, but wow lol.