'Wednesday Night Hockey': 5 Storylines

The Chicago Blackhawks will try to end an eight-game losing streak (0-6-2) when they host the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN) in the first game of a "Wednesday Night Hockey" doubleheader. The losing streak began when the Blues defeated the Blackhawks 7-3 in St. Louis on Oct. 27.

The second game is between two struggling Pacific Division teams. The Vegas Golden Knights are back at T-Mobile Arena to play the Anaheim Ducks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN) after losing three of four games during a road trip through Canada.
Here are 5 storylines for the doubleheader this week:

Blackhawks need wins quickly

The Blackhawks went 4-0-1 in their first five games and 6-2-2 after 10 when they went to St. Louis on Oct. 27. They haven't won since. Joel Quenneville, who coached Chicago to Stanley Cup championships in 2010, '13 and '15, was fired Nov. 6 and replaced by Jeremy Colliton, 33. However, the change hasn't helped. Chicago is 0-2-1 under Colliton and the first point it earned since an overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 28 came in a 3-2 OT loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, when they were unable to hold a 2-0 lead. The Blackhawks (6-8-4) have dropped to sixth in the powerful Central Division, and another bad week or two is could make a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs more than they can handle.

So do Blues

The only team below the Blackhawks in the Central Division are the Blues (6-6-3), who've played three fewer games. St. Louis looked like it might be turning the corner last week when it defeated the Hurricanes 4-1 and the San Jose Sharks 4-0. But a 3-2 home loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday threw cold water on hopes of a longer winning streak. Worse for the Blues is that they've played 11 games at home (5-5-1) and an NHL low four games on the road (1-1-2). The visit to United Center starts a three-game road trip and begins a stretch that will see them play seven of 10 games away from Enterprise Center.

Golden Knights struggling to score

No expansion team in any sport had the kind of success the Golden Knights enjoyed last season. They finished first in the Pacific Division, won three playoff series and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Washington Capitals in five games. But their second season has been different. Although the Golden Knights are every bit as fast as they were last season and often dominate play for minutes at a time, they're not getting the same results, which shows up in their 7-10-1 record. The Golden Knights averaged 32.8 shots per game and had a 10.0 shooting percentage (sixth in the NHL) in 2017-18. They're taking more shots this season (34.7 per game) but scoring on fewer of them (6.9 percent, 30th in the NHL) this season. Vegas must turn more of those shots into goals to get back into the playoff race.

Vegas needs more from key players

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had the best statistical season of his NHL career with the Golden Knights in 2017-18 (2.24 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) and was a big reason for their record-setting first season. But he's been up and down this season, going 7-7-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .895 save percentage. Fleury sees an average of about 25.5 shots for 60 minutes, one of the lightest workloads in the NHL, but he's not making the key saves at clutch moments that he did last season. Nor are some of the key offensive players coming up big. William Karlsson, a 43-goal scorer last season, has scored four goals (and 14 points) in 18 games. Reilly Smith, who had 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) in 67 games, has three goals and seven points in 18 games. The Golden Knights have also received little from their two big offseason acquisitions. Center Paul Stastny is scoreless in three games and hasn't played since Oct. 8 because of injury and forward Max Pacioretty has scored two goals in 14 games.

Gibson can't do everything for Ducks

Anaheim is 8-8-3 after starting 5-1-1 despite being outshot on a nightly basis; opponents have averaged 36.8 shots per game to 25.5 for the Ducks. The only reason the Ducks are treading water is John Gibson, whose .931 save percentage is fourth in the NHL among goalies who've played at least 10 games. But Gibson needs help that he's not getting from his offense. With the season nearing the one-quarter mark, no Anaheim player has scored more than five goals and its leading scorer, Rickard Rakell, has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 19 games, a pace that would give him 56 when projected over an 82-game season. Gibson and backup Ryan Miller (.936 save percentage) have been terrific, but without more offense their efforts won't result in a playoff berth.