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 --Key Matchup: Blues penalty-kill vs. Blackhawks power play.
Chicago has struggled to possess the puck during 5-on-5 play, and
that's not likely to change in the playoffs. If that continues, it
will put a strain on the Blackhawks' defense, goaltending and
especially their special teams. More specifically, it will put
pressure on Chicago's power play to be as good as it was in the
regular season.
Led by the high-scoring line of Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and
Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks' power play finished the regular season
second in the NHL in efficiency (22.6 percent). The Blues finished
third in penalty-killing (85.1 percent success rate) and should
provide a strong challenge for Chicago's power-play units, led by
red-hot goalie Brian Elliott.
 --X Factor: Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.
Crawford allowed five goals in each of his final two starts during
the regular season, and those appearances were separated by nearly a
month because of an upper-body injury. Prior to the injury, Crawford
was having a career-best season. The two-time Stanley Cup winner had
great numbers and was in the discussion for the Vezina Trophy.
Crawford's play this season is a big reason the Blackhawks stayed
among the NHL's top teams. Chicago didn't have the puck nearly as
much as previous seasons, but the wins still piled up thanks to
Crawford's play. During the Blackhawks' franchise-record 12-game win
streak from Dec. 29-Jan. 19, Crawford made nine starts and went
9-0-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. If
he can regain top form quickly, it could swing the series heavily in
Chicago's favor.
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--Who Wins: Blues in six.
Chicago has won the Stanley Cup three times in the past six seasons
for a reason. The Blackhawks have a core group of elite players and
never seem to lose hunger for winning championships. Desire,
however, only gets you so far.
Chicago's struggles in puck-possession stem from offseason roster
depletion that was necessitated by the NHL's strict salary cap.
Acquiring Andrew Ladd at the trade deadline filled a glaring hole at
left wing on the top line, but the Blackhawks were unable to replace
Johnny Oduya on the second defense pairing. Chicago's offense is
created by its defense. When the defense struggles to clear its own
zone, everything bogs down.
The Blues often get labeled as merely a big, physical team, but are
much more skilled than some realize. St. Louis has the edge
defensively, but also has high-end talent up front. In the end, it
will be too much for the Blackhawks to handle.
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