TV: NBCSN, CSN-CH
Season series: The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues have split their four games this season. The Blues defeated the Blackhawks 2-1 in Chicago this past Sunday on a 38-save performance from goalie Jake Allen and goals by forwards David Backes and Olli Jokinen.
Blackhawks team scope: Chicago can finish anywhere from first in the Central Division to being the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. However, the Blackhawks need to win their remaining two games and get some help from teams playing the Blues and Nashville Predators if they want to climb the standings. "I think we're much better on the road this year," coach Joel Quenneville said on the Blackhawks website. "… Every game's tight, every game's on the line from start to finish. We'll see where we stand [at the end of the regular season]." Goalie Corey Crawford is expected to start. Right wing Patrick Kane (clavicle) is skating but not cleared to play. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen (upper-body injury) is day-to-day and center Brad Richards (upper body) will sit out the remainder of the regular season.
Blues team scope: St. Louis can wrap up home-ice advantage for the Western Conference First Round with a victory against the Blackhawks. Coupled with a Nashville regulation loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, the Blues can win the Central Division for the second time in four seasons. "First and foremost, the only way to really take care of ourselves is to win," defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "Tomorrow's a big game. I think we can lock up home-ice advantage if we win, or at least get one of the top two spots if we win tomorrow. … They're a team that's chasing us right now. We know how good they can be at this time of the year, so it's important that we get a good one tomorrow." Allen will get the start in goal for the Blues, who will be without injured forwards Alexander Steen (lower body) and Vladimir Tarasenko (lower body) and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (upper body).
TEAM STATS
Hawks
GP RECORD HOME ROAD L10 G/GP GA/GP PP% PK% PIM/GP S/GP SA/GP FO%
80 48-26-6 24-12-5 24-14-1 5-5-0 2.71 2.26 17.8 84.3 7.2 34.1 30.4 52.1
BLUES
GP RECORD HOME ROAD L10 G/GP GA/GP PP% PK% PIM/GP S/GP SA/GP FO%
80 49-24-7 25-12-2 24-12-5 4-4-2 2.91 2.42 22.1 83.7 11.1 31.1 27.3 53.5
