Chicago Blackhawks: Central Division preview for 2019-20

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues woke up in early January in dead last place in the National Hockey League. Not the Central Division, not the Western Conference, the entire NHL. Then they inserted Jordan Binnington into their starting goaltender position and they went on a run. They ended up coming in third place in the Central Division with a record of 45-28-9 for 99 points. Then, something incredible happened.

They defeated the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Boston Bruins to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. It was a magical run for Binnington and the Blues as they captured the Cup over a long period of greatness following a very underwhelming first half. They made additions to their team the summer prior like Tyler Bozak and Ryan O’Reilly and it didn’t seem to be working until it did work.

Those additions supplemented players like Vladimir Tarasenko, Alex Pietrangelo, and Jaden Schwartz. These guys came together and did something truly special. They played a true team game and got the job done when it mattered most. Ryan O’Reilly won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs a year after being traded away. The Blues were that team that just couldn’t get over the hump until last year and now their demons have been exercised.

The Blackhawks and the Blues have a pretty intense rivalry. Some people consider them the biggest rival, especially since the Detroit Red Wings moved over to the Eastern Conference. The Blues won the Stanley Cup, but throughout last season the Blackhawks earned eight out of a possible ten points from them as they went 4-1 against them head to head. The Blues winning the Cup is going to add a little extra flair to this rivalry and you should be excited to watch it.