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Five Reasons the St. Louis Blues Could Beat the Chicago Blackhawks

By Joseph Schneider

Apr 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is congratulated for scoring during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. St. Louis won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is congratulated for scoring during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. St. Louis won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues center
Nov 19, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues center /

1. Healthy lineup

While twelve players spent time on the injured reserve during the 2015-16 season, the Blues will enter the playoffs with more depth compared to what has been available for a majority of the season.

David Backes and Steve Ott have both been cleared to compete in game action, and the two forwards could provide more speed and physicality to a lineup with the third best aggregate special teams rate (106.66 percent) during the regular season. These returns could allow less line shuffling that help productive units reemerge, such as the STL line that combined for 130 points in Jaden Schwartz, Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Most importantly, projected starting goaltender Brian Elliott was able to rest up and prepare for the series with a three-day break in game action.

The two-time All Star is fresh off of a campaign in which he led the league in save percentage (.930) and started 18 consecutive games from January 9- February 22. Twenty-six-game winner Jake Allen will also be available to control the crease in the case of an emergency.

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